I don't know this paper (sounds like a tabloid), and the article is unsigned, but, assuming it's true, just WHAT are the Brits smoking these days?
"The Law Society is deeply concerned about any proposal that would seek to punish people on the basis of what they might do in the future."
Coming soon - EVERYBODY will be tested to weed out the 'possibles'.
http://www.sky.com/news/uk/story3.htm
Criminals are to be 'scored' on how likely they are to re-offend by computers fed information on their background and attitudes to crime.
The results will be used to help judges set prison sentences and release dates and police on whether to grant bail.
Critics believe the system amounts to
'betting shop justice' and could discriminate against ex-offenders living in high crime areas.
Multiple choice
Criminals will have to fill out a multiple choice questionnaire about their backgrounds, including information on their criminal record, postcode, drug and alcohol use and attitudes to crime.
Probation officers will take down longer written answers and all the information will be fed into a computer.
What comes out is a score, expressed as a percentage, which reflects the likelihood that they will re-offend.
'Consistent'
The Offender Assessment System (OASys) is the first of its kind in the world and is aimed at making probation reports more consistent.
It is currently being piloted in test areas and will be introduced across England and Wales next year.
Sir Graham Smith, chief inspector of probation, said the system would be controversial, but would remove the problems caused by the subjectivity of individual officers.
He said: "We have to be more consistent. We have relied too much on nouse, instinct and feel."
Unacceptable
Mark Leach, chief executive of Unlock, a national association for ex-offenders, said the system was unacceptable.
He said: "When someone's liberty is on the line it requires a person, not a computer that can be cross-examined."
Harry Fletcher, spokesman for the National Association of Probation Officers also warned that officers need to retain the final decision.
He said: "It is a highly controversial move. You cannot reduce the sentencing process to a computer print out because offending behaviour is much more complicated than that."
'Deeply concerned'
There were also warnings that the OASys might infringe criminals' human rights.
Deputy vice-president of the Law Society David McIntosh said: "The Law Society is deeply concerned about any proposal that would seek to punish people on the basis of what they might do in the future."
© 2000 sky.com
------------------
"The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside
the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light." (Romans 13:12)
"The Law Society is deeply concerned about any proposal that would seek to punish people on the basis of what they might do in the future."
Coming soon - EVERYBODY will be tested to weed out the 'possibles'.
http://www.sky.com/news/uk/story3.htm
Criminals are to be 'scored' on how likely they are to re-offend by computers fed information on their background and attitudes to crime.
The results will be used to help judges set prison sentences and release dates and police on whether to grant bail.
Critics believe the system amounts to
'betting shop justice' and could discriminate against ex-offenders living in high crime areas.
Multiple choice
Criminals will have to fill out a multiple choice questionnaire about their backgrounds, including information on their criminal record, postcode, drug and alcohol use and attitudes to crime.
Probation officers will take down longer written answers and all the information will be fed into a computer.
What comes out is a score, expressed as a percentage, which reflects the likelihood that they will re-offend.
'Consistent'
The Offender Assessment System (OASys) is the first of its kind in the world and is aimed at making probation reports more consistent.
It is currently being piloted in test areas and will be introduced across England and Wales next year.
Sir Graham Smith, chief inspector of probation, said the system would be controversial, but would remove the problems caused by the subjectivity of individual officers.
He said: "We have to be more consistent. We have relied too much on nouse, instinct and feel."
Unacceptable
Mark Leach, chief executive of Unlock, a national association for ex-offenders, said the system was unacceptable.
He said: "When someone's liberty is on the line it requires a person, not a computer that can be cross-examined."
Harry Fletcher, spokesman for the National Association of Probation Officers also warned that officers need to retain the final decision.
He said: "It is a highly controversial move. You cannot reduce the sentencing process to a computer print out because offending behaviour is much more complicated than that."
'Deeply concerned'
There were also warnings that the OASys might infringe criminals' human rights.
Deputy vice-president of the Law Society David McIntosh said: "The Law Society is deeply concerned about any proposal that would seek to punish people on the basis of what they might do in the future."
© 2000 sky.com
------------------
"The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside
the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light." (Romans 13:12)