There is a saying that you can judge a society by the way it treats its prisoners.
A young relative of mine is in prison. He committed a crime and has done wrong - but the cause of that crime was his mental health problems (foetal alcohol and drug syndromes - he is adopted and his parents were addicts - , and autism). He should be in a mental health facility, as should many of his fellow prisoners.
This is what is happening in prison during coronavirus. Every prisoner is in their cell alone for 23.5 hours per day - no-one to speak to. In their half hour out they have to get a shower and hope to find a moment to ring home. That is it for the day. His young cell neighbour committed suicide last night; as did another young man several weeks ago.
These are damaged young men who are enduring what is virtually solitary confinement.
I know that many will think that other people are more deserving of our concern during this pandemic. But I feel the need to try and press for more humane treatment.
There is no reason why prisons should not be treated like schools with "bubbles" consisting of groups of prisoners able to socialise or take part in classes on a rota basis.
Locking down in this way is just brewing up more problems. I am sure that I would not be able to cope with it.
