'Parents could be spared from jail'

Aug 18 2009

Criminals could be spared jail if they are a parent, Scotland`s new children's tsar said.

Children's Commissioner Tam Baillie said judges should consider the impact of prison on an offender`s children before deciding whether to lock them up.

Sheriffs and judges should have a statutory obligation to take the human rights of an accused`s children into account, said Mr Baillie.