Judges send too many people to jail, says Shatter

Justice Minister Alan Shatter has clashed with judges again after criticising them for sending too many offenders to jail on short sentences.

Mr Shatter said he was “disappointed” judges were not using legislation he enacted in 2011 obliging them to consider imposing community sentences instead of prison terms in cases attracting a sentence of one year or less.

He said official figures showed that almost 90% of people sentenced to prison in 2012 were serving sentences of fewer than 12 months.