Tougher stance on prison sentences
Report finds criminals typically serve less than half of their time and 80,000 convicts are free, awaiting prison space
THE JUSTICE system in France needs major reform to ensure criminals serve more of their sentences, a new report has recommended.
The research by Alpes-Maritimes MP Eric Ciotti found convicted criminals typically spend less than half of their sentence behind bars - and 80,000 convicts have yet to start their prison time because of overcrowding.
Ciotti said sentencing needed to be toughened because the current system was unfair to victims and demoralised the police. Some criminals who are sentenced to less than two years spend no time in prison at all.
Among his 50 recommendations include a stop to the "credits" system that sees sentences automatically shortened by two months for every year served.
Ciotti said: "It is difficult to understand how a person convicted of a crime and sentenced to life in prison can serve only 18 or 20 years on average."
Inmates could still be released early, but they would be regularly visited and monitored for the rest of their sentence to help their rehabilitation.
The report, which will be handed to President Sarkozy tomorrow, also recommends better use of community service and military training for young repeat offenders.
