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News | April 22, 2024 | 15:15
Minister Welwind (Legal Protection) will ask the court to assess the pending sentences of a group of juvenile offenders who have not yet served their sentences due to a number of factors. This information comes in a letter he submitted to the House of Representatives.
Currently, there are 36 juvenile offenders awaiting execution of sentences of 3 to 5 years or more. In the vast majority of cases, the outstanding sentence is less than a month. The most common convictions are for property crimes such as theft and handling stolen goods.
Minister Welwind: “These young people also need to get on with their lives. For almost five years some of them have had a sentence hanging over their heads like a sword of Damocles; they deserve to know whether the sentences will actually be carried out. I would like to hear from the court whether carrying out these sentences now still has any punitive purpose, thereby providing clarity for these 36 young people. Of course, clarity also means: you still have to serve your sentence.”
The Minister wanted the court to know whether it was appropriate to delay the execution of the sentence. Therefore, all cases were re-referred to the court; 6 cases were for revision of the sentence and 30 cases were for the court to give its opinion on whether it was appropriate to delay, reduce, modify or waive the original sentence.
The court’s assessment involves comparing the offender’s current situation with that at the time of conviction. Where necessary, advice will be sought from the Child Care and Protection Board or the Probation Service in this regard. The court may also consider the interests of the victim. As always, the court’s opinion will guide the Minister in making the final decision.
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