No jail for woman who left blind/deaf 6 yr old outside overnight

[MollieO]

Here. I cannot understand how this woman didn't get a custodial sentence. Maybe someone better versed in the Scottish legal system than me could explain?

what WAS the potential custodial sentence?
short term prison sentences DONT work at all

That is a shocking story. I am really, genuinely shocked. How on earth has this woman escaped a custodial sentence?

MAYBE becuase if she went to prison she would come out with NO probation input and that is what she needed

wihtout reading the reports any conjecture on sentencing is imvho pointless

Why does going to prison mean she wouldn't have had input from the probation service? Most custodial sentences come with some sort of supervision or conditions on release.

This is a shocking case of neglect. She might have expected a similar sentence for treating a dog this way.

anyway it says he has deferred sentencce
not NOT sent her

nope
NOTHING
that is why ofetn low level sex offenders dont go in - the options are for eg 8 weeks inside then out with nothin OR 3 years on a treatment programme

i think( not sure) the only time you get probation in put on release is when you are out on licence

It's not that she has not got a custodial sentnece: she has not been sentenced yet and has three months to show that it really was a one-off incident.

She may theng et community service - or cold still get a custodial sentence if she commmits other offences.

OK, Scottish law, it is not that she has recieved no punishment, its that her punishment has not been decided yet, and won't be for the next three months. In that three months, she has the opportunity to show the sheriff that she can stay out of trouble, he may also be expecting her to seek voluntary help for any possible issues that were raised in reports.

When she goes back to Court, the sheriff will issue a punishment, presumably not jail if she has behaved for three months, but could be the maximum Community Service, or Probation if there are still issues that need addressing. However, should she re-offend in that time, she could still get a jail sentence.

If she recieved a prison sentence of under three years, there would be no supervision on release. The Scottish Courts work on the assumption that a first offender who presents a low risk of re-offending won't go to jail unless convicted of the most serious of offences - murder or dealing huge amounts of heroin.

Poor little girl