Mick Clifford: Proposal on how life sentences are served will help to improve justice

At last, the Government seems intent on implementing a system in which a judge can decide on a minimum term, writes Mick Clifford

While the headlines centred on tougher sentences for knife crime, far more relevant to the criminal justice system, particularly victims, was the commitment emerging from Cabinet to review how life sentences are served.

There has been much tough talk around sentencing for serious crime in recent days, but genuine progress was made at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting in one respect. All the headlines centred on tougher sentences for knife crime. That’s grand, but the evidence suggests it will have little impact on the incidence of the crime.

Far more relevant to the criminal justice system, particularly victims, was the commitment emerging from Cabinet to review how life sentences are served. This was set out as a priority for the Department of Justice in August 2023 and is now being actioned. It has been a long time coming.