Sentencing (a New Sentencing Framework)

Book excerpt: The South African sentencing system faces certain problems. There is a perception that like cases are not being treated alike; that sentencers do not give enough weight to certain serious offences; that South African restorative alternatives are not being provided for offenders being sent to prison for less serious offences; that sufficient attention is not being paid to the concerns of victims of crime; and that, largely because of overcrowding, sentenced prisoners are being released too readily. The Commission has accepted that there is substance to this criticism of the sentencing system and proposes a framework that in its view can remedy these problems to the greatest extent possible.