Children should not be 'get out of jail free' card

2.04.47pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 18th Aug 2009

Commenting on reports that the new Children’s Commissioner has called for sentencing to reflect offenders’ family circumstances, Liberal Democrat Justice spokesperson Robert Brown MSP said:

“Children should not be a ‘get out of jail free’ card for offenders.

"Family, along with previous convictions and employment, is already a consideration when judges make a decision about sentencing, but the Children’s Commissioner’s recommendations should be examined as part of the wider review of sentencing.

“For instance, it’s likely that many of the custodial sentences handed down to parents are very short term sentences. In these cases, we know that prison simply doesn’t work and the most effective sentence for them would be tough community sentences. This would also allow them to retain family links.

“It’s also well known that children of offenders often go on to commit crimes themselves. It’s important that these vulnerable youngsters are identified and that action is taken to stop them falling into the offending cycle.”