Does Prison Work for the 'Lesser' Offender?

[Ammi]

They have a place in terms of punishment and taking the offender out of circulation..but do you think they work in terms of reform and rehabilitation or do you think other punishments i.e. tagging or community service are better?

[joeysteele]

I think that only people really deemed to be a danger to the public should be sent to prison. Anyone armed, committing violence at all or for all forms of sexual abuse.

Sadly in the UK, finance matters more and someone who is guilty of a financial crime more often than not can get a stiffer punishment than someone carrying out a violent act.

Prison is a training ground for how to commit more crimes, many things that go on in prisons are detrimental to rehabilitation too,so someone in for a weaker,say financial crime could come out far worse in attitude and aims than when they went in.

I would invest in the other areas of punishment more, such as probation but I would make it far more strict and intrusive to the criminals life.
The prison places could then be there for those who cause damage to property,who commit violent crime, who carry out sexual abuse and of course for the even more serious cases of murder and attempted murder.
So my short answer is that prison doesn't in my opinion work for the lesser offender and if something does need overhauling by the politicians, it is the waste of places taken up in prison by those lesser offenders.
Work out from a lesser financial crime say,then work out the cost of keeping such a person in prison,it is ridiculously high.the economics of madness,(in my view).

[fruit_cake]

I think Prison should be for violent offenders only, the rest should have civic punishments, like having to clean toilets for 6 years or something.

[Ammi]

I think that only people really deemed to be a danger to the public should be sent to prison. Anyone armed, committing violence at all or for all forms of sexual abuse.

Sadly in the UK, finance matters more and someone who is guilty of a financial crime more often than not can get a stiffer punishment than someone carrying out a violent act.

Prison is a training ground for how to commit more crimes, many things that go on in prisons are detrimental to rehabilitation too,so someone in for a weaker,say financial crime could come out far worse in attitude and aims than when they went in.

I would invest in the other areas of punishment more, such as probation but I would make it far more strict and intrusive to the criminals life.
The prison places could then be there for those who cause damage to property,who commit violent crime, who carry out sexual abuse and of course for the even more serious cases of murder and attempted murder.
So my short answer is that prison doesn't in my opinion work for the lesser offender and if something does need overhauling by the politicians, it is the waste of places taken up in prison by those lesser offenders.
Work out from a lesser financial crime say,then work out the cost of keeping such a person in prison,it is ridiculously high.the economics of madness,(in my view).

Another excellent post Joey

[arista]

They have a place in terms of punishment and taking the offender out of circulation..but do you think they work in terms of reform and rehabilitation or do you think other punishments i.e. tagging or community service are better?

In America
they are going Private.

Inside the Prison
they will work for very low pay.


Thats Clever

[Marc]

Seems to toughen people up a lot, probably not what's needed in society to be far. Community service seems to a good idea considering it actually helps out society to an extent.

[arista]

I think Prison should be for violent offenders only, the rest should have civic punishments, like having to clean toilets for 6 years or something.


No Build Toilets
for 25p a day

[Kizzy]

'Community payback' and seizure of all assets in cases of fraud. Only way to hit greedy people is in the pocket.

[Tom4784]

Prison is pointless for minor crimes as it costs more money to house these prisoners then it's worth. Only serious crimes should have a custodial sentence while the minor ones should just be tasked with some form of community service or labour, It's cheaper then a prison sentence and it makes good use of the offenders. I think your typical person would learn their lesson from the labour work not to do it again.

If it's someone who's reoffending then by all means give them a term in prison.

[InOne]

Prison often turns petty criminals into professional criminals

[lostalex]

I think it probably works best for the more minor offenses. I know that was true for me. I never went to prison, but i spent a few nights in jail once, and it definitely put the fear of god into me(not literally, i'm not religious).

I think for true serious criminals, they don't really care, they will just commit more crimes when they get out because they are sociopaths, but for smaller crimes, i think normal people would be scared ****less by being in jail and clean up their act fast.

[Ammi]

..I've bumped this thread because of the Karen Matthews case..and other cases equally as serious as hers. If one of the main reason why sentences are often halved or too short for these crimes, is because of the amount of lesser offenders in prison..then there are other punishments that should be applied..and may even be more effective for reform
A sentence..8 years in Karen Matthews' case should be just that

[Kizzy]

I think how it works if they are let out early is that they are on licence. she will prob be on cerfew too, one false move and will go straight back to serve the rest of the sentance.
http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/law_e/prisoners_fact_sheets.htm

[arista]

They have a place in terms of punishment and taking the offender out of circulation..but do you think they work in terms of reform and rehabilitation or do you think other punishments i.e. tagging or community service are better?


We need to build
Private Prisons and inside they will all work
for low wages.

[joeysteele]

..I've bumped this thread because of the Karen Matthews case..and other cases equally as serious as hers. If one of the main reason why sentences are often halved or too short for these crimes, is because of the amount of lesser offenders in prison..then there are other punishments that should be applied..and may even be more effective for reform
A sentence..8 years in Karen Matthews' case should be just that

I am totally with you on this issue, also InOne makes a strong point above too, prison often turns petty criminals into professional criminals.
Absolutely right.

To be honest,I am not sure how I feel as to private prisons,at this point in time I would prefer them to be run and overseen by the State. However,I am open to be persuaded on that.