Judges in England and Wales to receive powers targeting absent offenders

Judges in England and Wales will receive new powers to impose harsher prison punishments on offenders who refuse to face their victims' families in court, BBC News reported. Under the new measures, judges can order that offenders spend weeks in their cells or lose social visits. [1]

The Ministry of Justice acknowledged that adding extra jail time is unlikely to deter criminals who are already facing long prison terms, according to BBC News. The tougher sanctions build on current laws that allow courts to fine offenders or sentence them to two additional years in prison for contempt of court. [1]

The new sanctions are scheduled to take effect next year as part of an effort to compel killers and other convicts to attend their sentencing hearings, BBC News reported. [1]