Prime Minister Gaston Browne is calling for sentencing guidelines to be revised, arguing that reductions for guilty pleas and good behaviour are allowing people convicted of serious crimes to serve disproportionately short prison terms.

Speaking during the Browne and Browne Show, Browne said his concerns primarily relate to firearm crimes, sexual offences involving children and cases involving repeat offenders.

He criticised the reduction of up to one-third of a sentence when an offender pleads guilty, saying the policy may be appropriate in some cases but should not automatically apply to serious crimes.

“To be given 33 and a third percent, that is an issue that needs to be addressed,” Browne said.

The prime minister also objected to inmates receiving another reduction for good behaviour while incarcerated. He argued that the combined reductions could result in an offender who initially receives a six-year sentence serving considerably less time.

Browne proposed discouraging offenders from entering not-guilty pleas in cases where the evidence against them is overwhelming and a trial would unnecessarily consume the court’s time.

“What you should do is that you disincentivise a not-guilty plea,” he said.

He also proposed adding time to the sentences of inmates who fight or commit other offences in prison, rather than automatically reducing sentences for prisoners who avoid misconduct.

Browne said the current system contributes to repeat offending by allowing persistent offenders to return to the streets before they can be properly rehabilitated.

“Those sentencing rules, in my view, they should be revised,” Browne said. “They’re not working.”

The prime minister said revised rules should reflect the intentions of Parliament and the public’s demand for stronger penalties for serious crimes.

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: VIDEO: PM Browne Calls for Revision of Sentencing Guidelines.