Labour gambling with public safety

Iam64

MOnica we agree, prison is ineffective in preventing re-offending. My impression is that new prisons are still needed because many of our prisons were built by the Victorians and not fit for purpose.
I often wonder if posters who don’t accept the need for good alternatives have ever been inside `strangeways aka Manchester prison, or Liverpool Walton, Wandsworth etc

Well I’ve been inside Chelmsford prison, (on a visit), and in a cell with a low risk prisoner on a low risk wing, this was bad enough. I cannot imagine what the much older prisons are like!

I also visited Bulwood Hall, in Essex, many many years for a job interview, which I was offered but turned down as my parents had a fit, sometime I regretted! This, at the time, was the only high security prison for young women aged between 16-25, though there was a violent prisoner in there aged 13. I spent the day there and it was really interesting, and just a bit scary.

vegansrock

The years of austerity - reducing number of experience prison officers, probation officers, training schemes and privatisation of prisons have led to this crisis. Large numbers of people are incarcerated who are no threat to the public - Just Stop Oil protesters , women in for benefit fraud for example. I know of one man who got 3 years for a first time white collar offence banged up for 23 hours a day - his time could have been used far more productively - helping other offenders with literacy, other work in the community for example. Training schemes, education, psychiatric help and addiction therapy should be available in order to prevent further offending.

👏👏👏👏👏

Nicenanny3

Cossy

Far too many of our prisoners are addicts, veterans, homeless, mentally unwell and care leavers! Treat the source and rehabilitate and watch for the results.

How?

Your question has been answer many times on various threads. Links to positive results from other norther European countries have been posted.
If you’re genuinely interested Google Holland - their alternative to custody approach very successful

It seems that crimes against the 'State' or property are regarded far more seriously than violent crimes against the individual.

I’ve never understood the heavy sentences for a first ‘white collar’ crime. I recall almost 50 years ago an accountant being sentenced to 3 years hmp. The probation report recommended 2 years supervision and outlined in detail the circumstances leading up a the offence. The PO saw it as a one off offence.

Nicenanny3

Cossy

Far too many of our prisoners are addicts, veterans, homeless, mentally unwell and care leavers! Treat the source and rehabilitate and watch for the results.

How?

By having prisons that concentrate on education and rehabilitation of those whose personal problems brought them to crime and into prison. Give far more support on release. make sure everyone released as a place to go to to live, no one is turned out with nowhere to go. Encourage foar more schemes like the Timpson scheme so that released prisoners have jobs when they ocne out.

Much repeat crimes comes from men released, with little or no money, no roof over their head and no job, they just drift back into theft, drug addiction and mental illness.

Iam64

I’ve never understood the heavy sentences for a first ‘white collar’ crime. I recall almost 50 years ago an accountant being sentenced to 3 years hmp. The probation report recommended 2 years supervision and outlined in detail the circumstances leading up a the offence. The PO saw it as a one off offence.

We knew someone who received quite a hefty sentence for fraud and were astonished when we heard. They had moved to a larger house nearby but nothing ostentatious. Of course, everyone was saying his wife must have known (I am sure she didn't) and she moved away through the shame of it all.

No one on this interesting discussion is suggesting offenders shouldn’t be punished. The majority want our criminal justice system to be more effective, recognising the ‘lock’em up’ approach is not stopping crime. It’s not cost effective and does nothing to prevent re-offending