UK Plans Laws Ending Most Short Prison Sentences, Expanding Community Punishments

The UK government is set to introduce new laws aimed at largely abolishing short prison sentences of 12 months or less, except in exceptional cases like domestic abuse, as part of a major overhaul to address prison overcrowding in England and Wales. The legislation, expected in September after the summer recess, will implement an earned release scheme modeled on a Texas system, allowing prisoners who demonstrate good behavior to be freed earlier while those who disobey face longer detention. Alongside reducing short custodial sentences, the bill will toughen community punishments by empowering courts to impose a wider range of restrictions such as bans from pubs, sports events, concerts, driving, travel, and confinement to specific zones, with harsher penalties for violations. The reforms follow recommendations from an independent sentencing review by former Conservative justice minister David Gauke and the Times Crime and Justice Commission, representing the most significant sentencing changes in three decades. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, who observed the Texas system, endorsed the approach, highlighting its effectiveness in reducing crime and controlling prison populations. The government maintains that these measures, alongside building new prison places, are essential to prevent the prison system from collapsing and to ensure safety and efficient justice delivery.