UK government plans prison penalties for refusing to attend sentencing
Judges in England and Wales would gain powers to remove privileges, order cell confinement and limit visits under rules planned for 2027.
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Judges in England and Wales would gain powers to remove privileges, order cell confinement and limit visits under rules planned for 2027.
The UK government plans to give judges in England and Wales new powers to remove prison privileges, confine prisoners to cells and restrict visits if offenders refuse to attend sentencing. The Guardian reports that the Ministry of Justice’s rules are intended to take effect in 2027.
Existing law already allows courts to order offenders to attend sentencing. Refusal can bring a fine or a further two years in prison for contempt of court—disobeying the court’s order. The proposed sanctions would add penalties affecting prisoners’ daily conditions, including for those already facing long sentences.
The Ministry of Justice set out the following powers, with shorter limits on loss of privileges and cell confinement for offenders aged 18–20.
| Scope | Sanction | Period |
|---|---|---|
| General powers | Loss of prison privileges | 84 days |
| General powers | Cell confinement | 21 days |
| General powers | Loss of social visits | 27 days |
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| General powers | Visits limited to once every four weeks | 84 days |
| Ages 18–20 | Loss of prison privileges | Up to 21 days |
| Ages 18–20 | Cell confinement | Up to 10 days |
Visits by prisoners’ children would be exempt from visit restrictions when in the child’s best interests, to help maintain family ties.
The Ministry of Justice acknowledges that no measure can guarantee attendance at sentencing. It says the wider powers would strengthen the consequences of refusal and allow offenders to be appropriately punished.
Claire Waxman, the victims’ commissioner for England and Wales, said refusals compound families’ trauma and deny them one of the few moments of accountability in the justice process. She called for courts and prisons to use the powers consistently.
The rules are due to be laid before Parliament on Thursday, 22 October, according to the Guardian’s report that day, with implementation planned for 2027.
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