(UK justice sec'y) Clarke to 'look again' at sentence discount after rape comments row

Source: The Guardian

The justice secretary, Kenneth Clarke, is to "look again" at the proposal to introduce a maximum 50% sentence discount in return for an early guilty plea after a furore over his remarks on the sentencing of rapists.

Under pressure from Downing Street, Clarke returned to the TV studios on Wednesday afternoon to make it clear that he regards "all rape as a serious crime" after sparking a major row when he gave the impression there were "serious rapes and other categories of rape".

Clarke did not apologise for his comments, but stressed that he now agreed with Downing Street that proposals to increase the maximum sentence discounts for early guilty pleas from 33% to 50% should be looked at again.

He said he had not intended to cause any offence, telling Sky News: "Obviously, I don't intend to give the impression, and didn't intend to choose words which gave the impression, that all rape is not serious.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/may/18/every-rape-is-serious-says-kenneth-clarke

---

"serious rapes and other categories of rape"...sounds a whole lot like that failed "forcible rape" bill proposed in the US House regarding exemptions to the Hyde Amendment.

plead rather than force their victims to go through a trial is a good idea. It's probably done in the US all the time since judges and prosecutors have a lot of discretion here.

"other categories of rape" include consensual sex between two 15 years olds for example.