Journalists have a right to report inconsistencies in sentencing – criminal justice advisor

Dan Suter, criminal justice advisor to Eastern Caribbean at the British High Commission in Barbados, believes that journalists have a responsibility to report on the inconsistencies in sentencing within the courts.{{more}}

Speaking at the launch of two documents by the office of the Director of Public Prosecution on May 3, Suter stated that sometimes, “sentences are incredibly inconsistent.

“It might seem unfair in terms of what somebody gets in terms of domestic violence cases.”

Suter said that studies have been done, comparing the sentences that men and women receive.

“Women get far more than men and sometimes, significantly more. We need to report about how sentences are dealt with in our courts.

“When drug traffickers may be getting fines. When asset recovery isn’t used to take away their ill-gotten gains. Take away the money, put it back into the state to play for the police, the courts and rehabilitation. Take away the drug dealer’s house on the hill. You’re hitting them where it hurts. Prison is an occupational hazard,” Suter said.