Finalised Probation Act to be lenient on first time offenders

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SM Abbas
Published : 09:17, Jul 22, 2019 | Updated : 09:22, Jul 22, 2019

Representational illustrationThe government has taken the initiative to amend the Probation Ordinance 1960; as part of it, the draft of the Probation Act 2018 has been finalised. As a result, persons found guilty of minor offences will get a chance to correct mistakes and get back to normal life, informed the ministry of social welfare and the cabinet division.

The main objective of the law is to allow a first time offender to come back to mainstream society after realising his/her mistake.

The new draft law will include rights for handicapped people. The court can release any person taking into consideration the age, the type of crime, physical condition etc.

However, this law will not be applicable for offences like wounding anyone grievously, threatening to kill, carrying out a robbery with weapons or illegally entering premises to steal or entering someone’s home without permission.

By giving a written statement that one will not commit an offence in the future, the court can release a person under this law. The main factor here is that the court is convinced that an offender is contrite and is determined not to repeat a crime.

A probation act council will work with the social welfare minister as the head; this will also feature two MPs, one from the government and the other from the opposition, the IGP or a representative selected by the head of police, social welfare secretary and joint secretary level officials from the ministries of family welfare, children and women’s affairs and sports. 

This will also feature a DG level official from the PM’s office, a representative from the bar council, MD of the Centre for Disability Development and others.

The National Probation Council will give directions for the formulation and implementation of decisions. Similar councils will also be established in districts and upazilas.

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