UK bans life sentences for offenders from marrying
The UK bans prisoners serving life sentences for particularly grave murders from getting married. Those sentenced to a "whole life order" - effectively never to be released - are generally prohibited from marrying or entering into a civil partnership while incarcerated.
"This denies the most heinous criminals the opportunity to enjoy significant life events that they callously denied their victims," the Ministry of Justice in London said. Families of the victims are also spared the trauma of watching their loved ones' killers get married.
Previously, prisoners could apply to get married, which a prison director could only refuse on security grounds. Now, the Ministry of Justice will only be able to approve a ceremony in exceptional circumstances. The former Conservative government had announced this toughening of the rules, which the new Labour government is now implementing.
The government is also preventing a specific serial killer from entering into a civil partnership, the British news agency PA reported. The man was sentenced to two life terms for the murders of two young women and a 13-year-old girl. He had reportedly sought legal aid to challenge a decision preventing his marriage.
This policy change further restricts events in life for these prisoners, as they can no longer seek marriage or civil partnerships within the prison system. The ban on marriage for the serial killer is an example of preventing such events for individuals who committed heinous crimes.
