Council: Consider halving some prison terms

Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard has received recommendations to shape a planned penal reform from the Criminal Code Council. The suggestions include the use of electronic monitoring, community service, and parole to apply prison sentences more wisely. One key proposal is the potential halving of certain prison sentences, where parole could be an option after serving half, provided the convict agrees to community service and possibly other conditions. Currently, two-thirds of the sentence must typically be served. The council also advises to expand the ‘front door’ electronic monitoring program to include sentences of up to nine months or a year’s unconditional prison, as opposed to the current six-month limit. The Minister states that these recommendations will be considered for the upcoming reform, highlighting a distinction in treatment between less serious offenders and hardened criminals.