Judges have been told to deal less severely with female criminals than men
when determining how to sentence them.
By Nick Collins
nick.collins@telegraph.co.uk
Published: 10:30AM BST 11 Sep 2010
Female criminals are more likely to have mental health or educational
difficulties and to have parenting responsibilities, while a lower proportion
will have committed violent crimes than men, according to new guidelines.
Judges ought to "bear these matters in mind" when passing sentence, according to
the Equal Treatment Bench Book, published by the Judicial Studies Board (JSB).
The body, which is responsible for training judges, said female victims,
witnesses and criminals have a very different experience in court than male
counterparts.
It said: "These differences highlight the importance of the need for sentencers
to bear these matters in mind when sentencing."
Quoting Supreme Court judge Baroness Hale, it added: "It is now well recognised
that a misplaced conception of equality has resulted in some very unequal
treatment for women and girls."
Dame Laura Cox, a high court judge who led the team writing the rules, wrote:
"It is hardly revolutionary that judges should know of the matters central to
the lives of those who attend courts and to aim to provide judges with that
knowledge."