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Last year the Board of Review recommended that 44 young
prisoners serving sentences of one year or more should have their
sentences reduced and the Governor granted the remissions recommended by
the Board. Two further young prisoners, both women, have also had their
sentences reduced by the Governor today on a recommendation of the Board
made in the course of a periodic review.
Recently a number of items of emergency legislation have been
withdrawn and there are a number of long-term prisoners serving prison
sentences for offences which took place under emergency legislation while
it was in force. In these circumstances and in the light of changed
conditions the Governor has therefore directed the Board of Review to
examine the records of all prisoners currently serving four years or more
in prison for offences connected with the 1967 disturbances to see if there
are any circumstances in individual cases which might justify a remission
of sentence.
Such a review does not necessarily mean that people sentenced
under emergency laws will automatically have their sentences reduced since
many other factors such as the particular type of offence involved, the
conduct of the prisoner and, possibly, other crimes of which he was found
guilty and sentenced at the same time have to be taken into account.
Release time: 8.00 p.m.
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