The First Offenders Act, 1958

Abstract

Ox July 7, 1958, there came into operation the First Offenders Act, 1958, which is, to quote its Long Title, an Act to restrict the imprisonment of first offenders.- Sponsored by Sir George Benson, M.P., as a Private Member's Bill, it received support and encouragement from the Home Office, which provided some drafting assistance, and it was almost unanimously welcomed in the House of Commons as a measure which would contribute in some degree to the solution of certain urgent penal problems.