MARY BELL ORDER Meaning and
Definition
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A "Mary Bell order" refers to a legal provision in many jurisdictions that allows for the imposition of restrictive measures on individuals convicted of serious crimes committed when they were minors. This term specifically derives from the case of Mary Bell, a notorious child killer in England in the 1960s. The Mary Bell order is intended to protect society and the rehabilitative interests of the convicted individual.
A Mary Bell order typically involves placing certain conditions on the individual's release or continued custody, such as limitations on their contact with certain individuals or places, mandatory counseling or therapy sessions, and close supervision by probation or parole officers. The order aims to strike a balance between the rights of the convicted minor and the safety of the community.
The primary purpose of a Mary Bell order is to address concerns regarding the potential risk that such individuals may pose to society due to their previous criminal behavior. By imposing strict regulations and monitoring, the hope is to minimize the chances of reoffending and facilitate the offender's rehabilitation.
Mary Bell orders may be established by legislation or imposed by a court in response to an individual's criminal past. These orders are often subject to periodic reviews and can be modified or revoked based on the individual's progress in terms of rehabilitation and risk assessment.
Overall, a Mary Bell order is a legal mechanism aimed at managing the risks associated with individuals who have committed serious crimes as minors, with the intention of safeguarding both the convicted individual and society at large.
