Answer to domestic violence? Jogging, says judge

[BovaryX]

Soft sentencing and judicial mollycoddling such as this sends out a clear message to low-level offenders that there are no consequences when you commit offences like this. At no point is the impact on the victim or that she feels forced to leave her home taken into consideration in sentencing. This will only serve to normalise domestic violence and abusive behaviour of this kind

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/01/16/judge-fire-telling-violent-abuser-take-running/

The judge told the court: "I have known John a long time

Is that a typo? I thought you couldnt be a judge or jury to someone if you knew them?

It doesn't seem to be a typo. Perhaps the judge has known him for a long time in a professional capacity? If so, what does that say about the failure to imprison recidivist criminals?

Surely if the judge knew the defendant in any manner they should not have been allowed to take the case?

Even a jury isn't allowed to know the defendant or the victim as it prejudices their view. WTF?

I assume she knows him in a professional capacity ie he’s appeared before her over a number of years. Suggesting jogging sounds bizarre but if the sentence is a typical one for that level of offence and she knows his pattern of offending then I’d suggest the magistrate is doing her job.

“I am really disheartened to see the mental health difficulties he has begun to experience. If he continues to smoke cannabis, that will continue. Get some motivation. Go running. That will give you an endorphin rush, instead of the cannabis.”

It’s likely his cannabis use is exacerbating his behaviour.

It’s likely his cannabis use is exacerbating his behaviour

So what? If the judge has known him for years in a professional capacity, he is a recidivist criminal. Jogging is an absurd response. This is the criminal justice system. Repeatedly failing the victims of violent crimes

The man is 21. She may have been dealing with his family for years. If he doesn’t have previous violent offences and his sentencing is in line with what is usually given I don’t think she’s done anything wrong in trying to steer him away from something that’s (probably) encouraging violent behaviour and definitely damaging his mental health.

There isn't the space in prisons to hold every single domestic abuser, because the problem so prolific, so judges tend to err on the side of rehabilitation if that is available for young offenders rather than sentencing.

She may have been dealing with his family for years

How could knowing any of his family as a judge translate into knowing him? You have no evidence for that assertion. Isn't it more likely he is known to the judge because of his own appearances in court? You don't think she's done anything wrong in telling someone she has known for years to go jogging? When he choked a woman and threw her to the floor?

qcng
If there isn't enough space in prison to hold violent, potentially recidivist offenders? Build more prisons. The trans party hug a hoodie BS which has dominated the UK for 20 years is past its sell by date. I hope Johnson delivers on his tough on crime election pledge. It's one reason why ex Labour voters switched parties

You don’t have to appear in court as a defendant. However she knows him, she knows him and his family circumstances better than any of us. If she’d let him walk away with nothing but advice it would be appalling. She has given him (I assume) a sentence in accordance with guidelines laid out for her.

However she knows him, she knows him and his family circumstances better than any of us

So what?

Locking everyone up doesn’t cut offending or recidivism. Putting more funds into drug and alcohol rehab, prison education programmes and community based support does. It doesn’t look as good in a tabloid headline and it isn’t an easy sell to people who prefer a good dose of Victorian morality.

That's the mantra that has dominated policy for twenty years. The consequences are explicit in every town in the UK. I am not interested in your cant about tabloids and I don't accept your trite analysis

Intensicle - you write, it seems, as someone with a good knowledge of the criminal justice system. God knows this part of MN needs it. Welcome.