Tougher senteces would help but the lawyers who are plea bargaining these charges away need to wake up and smell the coffe . Don't drop these charges make the seriousness of the crime show in the bargains that are made between lawyers ..... mostly at our expense( legal aid).
The defense also know the game and they are playing it. The more times I show up in court, the more I get paid, this is also a big part of the SCAM that lawyers are playing. Then their clients get 2 for 1 for any dead time that they incurred from the numerous remands, thereby clogging up the court system even more. These people are remanding their stuff until they have done enough dead time... plead guilty to lesser charge and walk out of jail at sentencing.
JMHO
Coop