Judges gain power to punish defendants who skip sentencing hearings

Judges in England and Wales have new powers to punish criminals who refuse to attend their own sentencing hearings. Previously, judges had no way to force defendants to come to court for sentencing. Now, if a criminal refuses to attend, a judge can add up to two years to their prison sentence. Judges can also order that a prisoner be kept separate from other prisoners as a punishment. On top of this, a prisoner can lose privileges for up to 84 days. Sentencing hearings are formal court events where a judge announces the punishment for a convicted criminal. Some defendants have refused to attend these hearings in the past. The new rules give judges stronger tools to make sure the process happens properly.