Posted August 26, 200717 yr With men like Justice Secretary Jack Straw in charge it is no wonder there is a prisons crisis. Britain’s jails are at bursting point because the Government refused to build enough new prisons to accommodate the record numbers now behind bars. What can be done? Mr Straw’s answer is to take 1,500 criminals out of prison and house them in rented flats and houses. It sounds crazy but hundreds of prisoners on remand or awaiting sentence will be housed in private properties in towns across Britain. The men will be visited by probation or prison staff at least once a week and will stay at addresses known to the police – but their neighbours will not be told who they are. They’ll be banned from visits by their wives and girlfriends and are expected to pay their rent but if they earn less than £16,000 a year the DHS will pay for them. How much softer can it get? The Government says only minor criminals will be eligible and that sex offenders and arsonists will remain in jail but a prison without bars is no punishment at all. Source: Sunday Express
August 26, 200717 yr What an utterly RIDICULOUS scheme. How the HELL do they think they can enforce these "no visits" rules if they're only visiting once a week? How the HELL do they expect to be able to find out what they're up to if even the neighbours don't know to keep an eye out? Labour is doing EVERYTHING it can to help reduce Britain to a land controlled by gangs and chavs. bast*rdS.
August 26, 200717 yr How can you describe the Government as being soft on crime when we have - by far - the largest prison population per head of population in Europe? Crime has been falling for 12 years yet the prison population has doubled. An offender is far more likely to be sent to prison for a specific offence than they were 10 years ago. Prison should be for people who have committed serious crimes. I will finish with a quote. "Prison is an expensive way of making bad people worse." David Waddington when he was Conservative Home Secretary in 1990. I didn't agree with him often but, on this occasion, he was absolutely right.
September 28, 200717 yr If you are on remand you have not been convicted of a crime, which means in this country you are innocent until proven otherwise, so why shouldn't you not be in prison. If you are found not guilty you will be ultimately released, so this scheme is not in reality a bad idea as it is only targeting minor offenders. In my opinion though this country uses prison as punishment far too much. I believe prison should be a last resort, and used only for violent and sex offenders, and only then for people who are a serious risk of reoffending, everyone else should be receiving help to change their behaviour, and suitable community punishment. In my humble opinion it is ridiculous that someone who steals money or a drug dealer normally gets a longer sentence than violent thugs or even in some case people convicted of manslaughter.
September 28, 200717 yr How can you describe the Government as being soft on crime when we have - by far - the largest prison population per head of population in Europe? Crime has been falling for 12 years yet the prison population has doubled. An offender is far more likely to be sent to prison for a specific offence than they were 10 years ago. well said! of course this government is much worse then any other previous one <_<. however this is a ludicrous notion... prison should mean prison, end off.
September 28, 200717 yr It's bad enough that they have more luxuries than most people but to do this is tooooo much! They're escaping from prisons as it is, so removing the bars is asking for even more trouble. Maybe they should imprison people committing serious crimes e.g. murder instead of pensioners not paying another useless tax. Of course the prisons are full- they get free t.v, tennis courts, hot food, education, and don't have to pay any mortgage. What's not to like?
September 28, 200717 yr "Prison is an expensive way of making bad people worse." David Waddington when he was Conservative Home Secretary in 1990. Yea, agree with that. Overall this Government does not do anything positive about the cause. The general view held in is to one of punish people for being bad. A view which when put into action results in more people being bad, more prisoners, and a prison system that can't cope. When is everyone going to wake up and address the problem rather then multiply it?
September 29, 200717 yr Prison doesn't rehabilitate people, or solve the causes of crime. It is a draconia old fashioned way of dealing with wrong doing, surely in this day and age we can do better Edited September 29, 200717 yr by kindagood
September 30, 200717 yr Yea, agree with that. Overall this Government does not do anything positive about the cause. The general view held in is to one of punish people for being bad. A view which when put into action results in more people being bad, more prisoners, and a prison system that can't cope. When is everyone going to wake up and address the problem rather then multiply it? Well I refer to the whole 'Peter Doherty should go to jail' topic that comes up every few days, if you send a drug addict to jail what is that going to do apart from make them worse? The phrase 'the punishment should fit the crime' also comes up, Ian Huntley for example life inprisonment was the right punishment as it's really getting to him now where he's trying to kill himself. Prison doesn't rehabilitate people, or solve the causes of crime. It is a draconia old fashioned way of dealing with wrong doing, surely in this day and age we can do better What can we do instead then? That's the problem.
September 30, 200717 yr Well I refer to the whole 'Peter Doherty should go to jail' topic that comes up every few days, if you send a drug addict to jail what is that going to do apart from make them worse? The phrase 'the punishment should fit the crime' also comes up, Ian Huntley for example life inprisonment was the right punishment as it's really getting to him now where he's trying to kill himself. What can we do instead then? That's the problem. I'm no expert so I don't know the answers, but I would suggest all non violent/sexual offenders should receive community work... as well as counselling and an investigation as to why the crime happened and how it could be prevented in future..... I would also suggest we end the current adveserial system that is our law courts and try to be constructive in our approach to offenders
September 30, 200717 yr Yea, agree with that. Overall this Government does not do anything positive about the cause. The general view held in is to one of punish people for being bad. A view which when put into action results in more people being bad, more prisoners, and a prison system that can't cope. When is everyone going to wake up and address the problem rather then multiply it? but there are only certain types of crime that can be addressed, the lesser ones caused by social issues. you cant prevent the more violent crimes being perpetrated. all to often prisons are like holiday camps, i knew some rough kids who got sent to youth detention centres for joyriding a stolen car, then trashing it. they came from such poor homes that prison WAS a luxury to them, warm, three meals, clean bed... crimes though should be punished.
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