UK courts to impose solitary confinement and visit bans for offenders skipping sentencing
Judges in England and Wales will gain new powers to punish offenders who refuse to attend sentencing hearings. Starting next year, criminals can face solitary confinement for up to three weeks, bans on social visits for nearly a month, and the revocation of prison privileges. These measures build on existing contempt of court laws, which currently allow for fines or additional two-year jail terms. The Ministry of Justice stated that longer jail time alone is insufficient to deter offenders already incarcerated. Prisons Minister Catherine McKinnell emphasized that refusing to face justice is an insult to victims and their families. The changes aim to rebalance power in the justice system, ensuring offenders cannot choose when to face consequences. While the measures target adult offenders, similar but shorter restrictions may apply to those aged 18 to 20. Visits from prisoners' children are exempt from these sanctions. The move follows advocacy from families of high-profile murder victims whose killers skipped sentencing, including those of Zara Aleena, Sabina Nessa, and Jan Mustafa.