News0 min ago
What is prison for?
Just watching “Newsnight” with Paxo. He’s at HM Prison High Down in Surrey. The prison handles mainly prisoners serving short sentences. He is there with Ken Clark talking about the effectiveness (or otherwise) of those prison sentences. On comes Peter Dawson, the prison Governor, who is asked what has been the effect on the prisoners of the short sentences that many of them serve. His reply: “Sending someone to prison always does harm to the person in prison. My job is to mitigate the harm is does to the person in prison and to their family”
And there’s me thinking that it is his job to keep them securely locked up, perhaps encourage them to sew a few mailbags and just ensure they are adequately fed and watered, but he made no mention of those responsibilities. No wonder prisons are so expensive to run if governors believe their role in life is “to mitigate the harm” that prison does to his charges.
I thought the idea of a prison was to inflict a bit of harm the miscreants with whom they deal. Or am I being a bit naive?
And there’s me thinking that it is his job to keep them securely locked up, perhaps encourage them to sew a few mailbags and just ensure they are adequately fed and watered, but he made no mention of those responsibilities. No wonder prisons are so expensive to run if governors believe their role in life is “to mitigate the harm” that prison does to his charges.
I thought the idea of a prison was to inflict a bit of harm the miscreants with whom they deal. Or am I being a bit naive?
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The more you harm already damaged people the worse those people's personalities will become. Is that really such a great idea, since 'nice' people don't mug rape or murder anyone? The prime aim of prison SHOULD be to create an individual who will reintegrate into society and never end up there again... now THAT would be a success- prisons which merely denigrate, punish and harm those inside are the creation of very seriously disturbed criminals indeed.
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I think the idea that prisons should be to punish went out with the cat o' nine tails. Many prisoners have mental health problems but there is nowhere else for them. Other's have addiction problems. The levels of illiteracy are very high and lots of prisoners have not the skills to ever make them employable.
Some might say that prisons were human dustbins and their function is to hold the casualties of our society.
Some might say that prisons were human dustbins and their function is to hold the casualties of our society.
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yes you are being niaive - or at least simplistic.
It has various purposes depending on the offender.
Some offenders are too dangerous to be allowed on the streets that's why we have indefinate sentences now.
In some cases it may act as a deterrant - normally short sentences for first or second time offenders.
There is the retribution purpose although those offended against will always want harsher sentences.
And there is the reassurance of those trembling under their beds in mortal fear of crime (seem to be a lot of those on AB) Again these people will never be satisfied until every shoplifter has been given a 30 year old sentence.
It's this balance that judges have to make
Worrying if you don't understand that
It has various purposes depending on the offender.
Some offenders are too dangerous to be allowed on the streets that's why we have indefinate sentences now.
In some cases it may act as a deterrant - normally short sentences for first or second time offenders.
There is the retribution purpose although those offended against will always want harsher sentences.
And there is the reassurance of those trembling under their beds in mortal fear of crime (seem to be a lot of those on AB) Again these people will never be satisfied until every shoplifter has been given a 30 year old sentence.
It's this balance that judges have to make
Worrying if you don't understand that
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You just did crissa- you said 'this country's penal system is a joke'
and getting back to what the 'hang em high' brigade- how many of you have ever actually been inside a prison- either as an inmate or a visitor- or is it all just the alarmist claptrap that the Daily Mail churns out that makes you so narrow and blinkered when you assume it's like Butlins?
and getting back to what the 'hang em high' brigade- how many of you have ever actually been inside a prison- either as an inmate or a visitor- or is it all just the alarmist claptrap that the Daily Mail churns out that makes you so narrow and blinkered when you assume it's like Butlins?