00:01Most offenders in England and Wales who would have faced up to a year in jail are now likely
00:06to receive no more than a suspended sentence, in one of the biggest changes to sentencing
00:11in decades. Under the reform, courts must stop handing out short prison terms except
00:17in specific or exceptional circumstances. MPs approved the measure as part of the government's
00:22plan to tackle the prison population crisis, with rehabilitation experts saying there's
00:28no evidence short jail terms work. Judges will also be able to suspend sentences of up to
00:34three years, a move expected to slow the flow of criminals into jails. The Sentencing Act
00:392026 aims to both ease overcrowding and improve rehabilitation.
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