Constance Briscoe Jail Term
Constance Briscoe Jail Term
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Discussion

Mill Wheel

Original Poster:

6,149 posts

227 months

Monday 10th November 2014
quotequote all
Back in MAY of this year, Constance Briscoe was jailed for 16 months - more than Huhne and his ex-wife, as apparently she had tampered with court documents in order to support her version of events.

However, it seems that she is now out on license, wearing an electronic tag.
I thought you could get 50% off ithe time served inside.
She appears to have done well to be out in just 6 months... after all PtCoJ is such a serious offence, that ££ millions were spent bringing Huhne et al to book!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2827668/SE...

Perhaps it is not as serious as I had at first thought!

Jasandjules

72,676 posts

260 months

Monday 10th November 2014
quotequote all
No it is not serious at all anymore. Lying to a court to avoid a conviction or reduce costs or whatever, no problems. Oh, you must be rich though.

anonymous-user

85 months

Monday 10th November 2014
quotequote all
Which part of this doesn't adhere to the norm? She hasn't "done well" - it's not a 'flip a coin and see what you get', it's a clear measured system.

She's clearly eligible for a Home Detention Curfew for part of her sentence, which results in a release prior to the 50% of time served.


andymc

7,626 posts

238 months

Monday 10th November 2014
quotequote all
HDC can be instigated at 25% of the time served so 4 months

anonymous-user

85 months

Monday 10th November 2014
quotequote all
Jasandjules said:
No it is not serious at all anymore. Lying to a court to avoid a conviction or reduce costs or whatever, no problems. Oh, you must be rich though.
Are you really a lawyer, JandJ? You trot out Daily Mail stuff like it's going out of style.

eldar

25,332 posts

227 months

Monday 10th November 2014
quotequote all
La Liga said:
Which part of this doesn't adhere to the norm? She hasn't "done well" - it's not a 'flip a coin and see what you get', it's a clear measured system.

She's clearly eligible for a Home Detention Curfew for part of her sentence, which results in a release prior to the 50% of time served.
Indeed, details here.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&am...

Devil2575

13,400 posts

219 months

Monday 10th November 2014
quotequote all
IMHO I don't consider any jail term to be getting off lightly. It's not like she is a threat to the public. If I went to prison it would be a significant issue not least because i'd lose my job and it would be a barrier to me getting work on release. Whether the term was 6 months or 9 months would be largely irrellevant, other than for that period. The real punishment would be the long term impact on my life. I think this is the case for most normal people who find themselves locked up.

Mill Wheel

Original Poster:

6,149 posts

227 months

Monday 10th November 2014
quotequote all
I have to say that as I see it, Constance Briscoe, has brought about a loss of confidence in the judiciary - if you can't trust a judge, who can you trust?

The public are becoming used to being lied to by journalists, politicians, a few rogue policemen and now it seems even judges can not just make questionable decisions, but even be involved in law breaking themselves.

Red Devil

13,529 posts

239 months

Monday 10th November 2014
quotequote all
DM article said:
It is thought that Briscoe, who was removed from the judiciary in August, will write her prison memoirs.
Oh gawd not another Jeffrey Archer. rolleyes

If it's not subject to a confiscation order under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, it censored well ought to be.
We expect career crims to do such things - it's almost part of their DNA. A judge committing PCoJ is something else.
It totally undermines the rule of of, and any respect for, the law.


anonymous-user

85 months

Monday 10th November 2014
quotequote all
Name any other Judge convicted of serious crime. There have been a few, mostly junior or part time judges, who have got into bother, but Briscoe is unique in her deplorable offending, IIRC. Now she will be an ex Judge and ex barrister.

Mound Dawg

1,931 posts

205 months

Monday 10th November 2014
quotequote all
And appearing on "I'm a Celebrity" at some point no doubt.

Mill Wheel

Original Poster:

6,149 posts

227 months

Monday 10th November 2014
quotequote all
Breadvan72 said:
Name any other Judge convicted of serious crime. There have been a few, mostly junior or part time judges, who have got into bother, but Briscoe is unique in her deplorable offending, IIRC. Now she will be an ex Judge and ex barrister.
Funny enough, I was looking for the coloured judge who challenged the validity of his ticket when I came across the 2009 story of an Australian judge, who lied about being at the wheel, 6mph over the limit.

HE got 3 years jail, TWO of which were without being eligible for parole, so it seems that others are of the same view as me, that judges need to be seen to be above suspicion, and if they blot their copy book, serve at least as long as any other.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7967982.stm

Briscoe has of course compromised her career, so needs to earn a living somehow - hence the prison memoirs... but IIRC, her earlier successful case against her own mother was being raked over with a view to an appeal... at the very least, her misdemeanour in the Huhne case must dent her credibility in the earlier case! Perhaps her earlier book might be reprinted before Christmas...!

anonymous-user

85 months

Monday 10th November 2014
quotequote all
I'd put it a little stronger than "compromised".

We had a high-profile politician and judge brought to justice. We should be proud of a justice system that that is able and capable of doing that. There are many places in the world where that would never happen.

LucreLout

908 posts

149 months

Monday 10th November 2014
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La Liga said:
I'd put it a little stronger than "compromised".

We had a high-profile politician and judge brought to justice. We should be proud of a justice system that that is able and capable of doing that. There are many places in the world where that would never happen.
In my view any judge caught perverting the course of justice should automatically be looking at the maximum prison term, due to their unique position to undermine the whole edifice.

carinaman

25,289 posts

203 months

Monday 10th November 2014
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Has she had the phone call from Theresa May about chairing the Inquiry into how the Public Sector dealt with accusations about paedophilia yet?

Mound Dawg

1,931 posts

205 months

Monday 10th November 2014
quotequote all
La Liga said:
I'd put it a little stronger than "compromised".

We had a high-profile politician and judge brought to justice. We should be proud of a justice system that that is able and capable of doing that. There are many places in the world where that would never happen.
Exactly this. Despite what some people here would have you believe we do actually have a very good justice system.

singlecoil

35,836 posts

277 months

Monday 10th November 2014
quotequote all
Jasandjules said:
No it is not serious at all anymore. Lying to a court to avoid a conviction or reduce costs or whatever, no problems. Oh, you must be rich though.
My guess is that at least half the stuff said in court isn't true.

Red Devil

13,529 posts

239 months

Monday 10th November 2014
quotequote all
Breadvan72 said:
Name any other Judge convicted of serious crime. There have been a few, mostly junior or part time judges, who have got into bother, but Briscoe is unique in her deplorable offending, IIRC. Now she will be an ex Judge and ex barrister.
What the censored difference does seniority make? Is Child Porn offences by a senior Crown Court Judge serious enough for you?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1464732/Jud...

A judge who allowed his 'law student' rent-boy to sit on the bench beside him during trials and sentencing (nice blackmail opportunity there).
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1294103/Ju...

Not mention this murky business.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1254134/Ta...

A magistrate is still a member of the judicial system which penalises/jails people. How about manslaughter of a two year old child?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2064819/Ma...

Or a £1m VAT fraud?
http://www.accountingweb.co.uk/article/former-magi...

Shall I go on?

Mill Wheel said:
Funny enough, I was looking for the coloured judge who challenged the validity of his ticket...
Hmmm, sounds vaguely familiar but I can't find it atm. Not thinking of Lord Ahmed the texting peer perhaps?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-ord...

A magistrate and his wife (neither of colour) who fabricated a tissue of lies to try and get her off a speeding charge.
http://www.nottinghampost.com/Magistrate-wife-trie...

It's all out there. All you have to do is look for them.

Derek Smith

49,989 posts

279 months

Monday 10th November 2014
quotequote all
LucreLout said:
In my view any judge caught perverting the course of justice should automatically be looking at the maximum prison term, due to their unique position to undermine the whole edifice.
The woman's position is an aggravating factor and so can increase the tariff.

I'm against mandatory terms. That's what judges are for.

We are lucky with the judges we have in this country. There are some inept ones but the dishonesty rate is very low. The tradition of service is still strong. There is a lot wrong with the UK justice systems but judges are not included.


aw51 121565

4,773 posts

264 months

Monday 10th November 2014
quotequote all
Mill Wheel said:
... judges need to be seen to be above suspicion, and if they blot their copy book, serve at least as long as any other ...
I'd suggest that the whole currently-sorry "establishment" should be whiter-than-white, including MPs caught with their hands in the till (old topic, I know redface ) as well as the judiciary.

Lead by example and all that... wink