New powers planned for offenders who miss sentencing hearings
Judges in England and Wales will gain new powers to punish offenders who refuse to attend their sentencing hearings.
Judges in England and Wales may get new powers. They may punish offenders who miss sentencing hearings.
The plan may keep offenders in cells. This may last up to three weeks.
Offenders may lose prison benefits. They may not get social visits for nearly one month.
Judges could allow one visit every four weeks. This could last almost three months.
The rules are expected to start next year. Parliament must finish its process first.
Visits from prisoners’ children will not face these punishments.
Catherine McKinnell is the prisons minister. She said offenders should not choose when they face justice.
Claire Waxman is the victims’ commissioner. She said the powers must work in the same way for all families.
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Ministry of Justice · Crown copyright · Open Government Licence v3.0
Independently rewritten, translated, simplified and shortened for this language-learning newspaper. No publisher endorsement is implied. Source publication: 2026-10-21T22:30:00+01:00; last indicated update: 2026-10-21T22:30:00+01:00.
Section: United Kingdom
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