Law to allow 30-year raps
LIFE SENTENCE LEGISLATION PLAN
JUDGES will be able to impose minimum life sentences of more than 30 years “if warranted” under proposed new legislation to be published today.
However, the judge’s recommendation will not affect a person’s eligibility for parole — and the Parole Board will “continue to consider the person for parole after 12 years have been served”.
Taoiseach Simon Harris and Minister for Justice Helen McEntee will today publish the Life Sentences Bill 2024, which was approved by Government recently.
Crimes such as treason and murder carry mandatory life sentences. Other serious offences, including rape and attempted murder, can also result in life imprisonment.
The proposals will give sentencing judges a formal role in informing decisions on the release of life-sentence prisoners on parole.
When sentencing, judges will make a recommendation on what minimum term should be served in prison before parole is granted. The Parole Board will be required to take that recommendation into account when making its decisions.
However, the recommendation will be “non-binding” and the Parole Board will continue to be responsible for deciding when a person will be released from prison.
This means that a person will not be “automatically” released when their minimum sentence is served.
However, it also means the recommendation from the judge will not affect eligibility for parole under the Parole Act 2019.
Minister McEntee stated the proposed legislation will mean a judge can recommend minimum sentences of longer than 30 years if they believe it is required.
“This Bill will provide for sentencing courts to reflect the gravity of the most heinous offences,” she said.
“Judges will be able to recommend minimum terms of 25, 30 years or even longer where that is warranted.
Punishment
“I am determined that the judiciary has access to a range of sentencing options to ensure that the punishment people receive matches the crime they have committed.
“People who commit the most serious crimes should be dealt with in a way that reflects their culpability and the harm they have caused.”
Harris said: “This legislation will provide for the long-awaited reform of life-sentencing practice in Ireland. It will allow judges when imposing sentences to fully reflect all of the circumstances of the offence, the culpability of the offender and the harm caused.”