Changes in the Law (from December 2012)

• Mandatory life sentences are given to those who have been convicted of a second (very) serious sexual or violent offence (this is the 2 strikes rule)
• Some dangerous criminals who don't fall under this rule of 2 strikes had a new sentences that was introduced by the government:

  • these criminals cannot be released from prison halfway through their jail sentence
  • they have to serve at least 2/3's of their sentence before being released
  • they can be kept inside the prison for the entire duration of their sentence