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Perhaps those who think this an excellent idea can explain why it should be restricted to ex-offenders. All the special qualifications which ex-offenders will allegedly bring to the role of magistrate are possessed in a much higher degree by currently practising offenders: inside knowledge of the criminal justice system; understanding of the modern criminal mind; an ability to command the respect of clients by an up-to-date grasp of thieves-kitchen slang and street jargon; and intense aversion to the idea of being punished. Moreover, entrusting offenders with the task of administering justice on fellow-crooks might be an admirable rehabilitation tool, a means of restoring their self-respect. Finally, Mr Timothy Hawkins offers the irresistible argument that offender-justices or justice-offenders would jail everyone in sight. Far from a criminal conviction being a bar to employment as a magistrate perhaps it should be made an essential condition.

Which reminds me of the old joke about the Englishman filling in a form to emigrate to Australia, who on reaching the question "Any criminal record?" replied: "Didn't know this was still required."

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