No Prison Sentence?

[Guilbert53]

Makes you wonder what you have to do to go to prison nowadays.

Two young idiots stole a bus, drove it for a number of miles and then crashed it.

Pure luck they did not kill anyone (though it does look like the middle of the night so not many people around), but that hardly makes a difference.

Got a suspended sentence.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-gloucestershire-45025042/cctv-shows-joyriders-crashing-stolen-bus

[jennyjoan]

Guilbert - the prisons are full up

[Guilbert53]

>>>Guilbert - the prisons are full up

Oh that's alright then.

Does not say much for our country does it, full up prisons and so you can commit a fairly major crime and just get a slapped wrist.

[jennyjoan]

I didn't say it was alright - just mentioning

[Canary42]

Seriously, what would be achieved by banging these two youngsters up ?

[douglas9401]

Nothing, Canary, absolutely nothing, surprised they were arrested in the first place, high jinks, nothing more.

[Spicerack]

They'll get 3 prison terms at the same time.

[dunnitall]

Flog 'em that will teach them ....hmmm. I wished!

[jourdain2]

Seriously, we do need some equivalents to prison. We could reinstate a modern version of the stocks where wrong-doers are publicly shamed (whilst being protected from rotten tomatoes etc.). At least their faces would be known and their families made very aware.

[ummmm]

They will have to change the system. Eff over crowding, just put more people in a cell.

[Davemano]

And they refer to them as 'joyriders' which they aren't, they are 'vehicle thieves'.

[Prudie]

The system is letting them down by not giving them a harsher sentence - short sharp shock in a young offenders or Borstal type equivalent (if they still exist) could turn their lives around. This will have no effect except them laughing it off to their mates.

[ummmm]

My uncle was arrested for joyriding in the 60's. My granddad went to court with him and told the judge he was joining the army. That was the conditions...prison or army. He joined the army.

Hated every minute of it but went in a boy and came out a man. Physically not mentally.

[AZardoz]

They're good boys; just ask their mums.

[Davemano]

^^^^^And they get in with the (wrong crowd). We've heard that hundreds of times.

[jourdain2]

My 2nd cousin got in with a bad lot aged 16. His dad also gave him the option of joining the army or being cast adrift. He joined the army and has just retired from the prison service (which he joined on leaving the army). It was the making of him - lovely man now.

[douglas9401]

Mind you, the man on the Clapham omnibus has to come from somewhere.

[ummmm]

Jourdain....my uncle never committed another crime in his life. Still fit as a fiddle though from his army training.

[jourdain2]

It works, doesn't it,ummm. :)

[EDDIE51]

Prison does NOT work. I have worked inside a prison. Over 75% of people sentenced to even a very short time in prison NEVER get a paid job again. This is due to the bias against employing an 'ex con'. So most of them end up offending again just to get money. That means they often get sent back to prison time after time.
A suspended sentence means that if you get arrested or break any of the conditions of the suspension you can go straight into prison without another trial. It also shows as a prison sentence on your criminal record. So a suspended sentence is a major deterrent and almost certainly does more good than locking someone up.
Jourdain, Community service , unpaid work for the good of the community is a good alternative to prison. Another reason for avoiding prison if possible is that is is VERY expensive.
The UK spent £3 Billion on prisons in 2016 ( the last year for which figures are available. Or £38,000 per prisoner a year
http://www.russellwebster.com/prisoncosts17/

[naomi24]

Eddie, //Prison does NOT work. //

Insofar as it keeps those who are a danger to society out of society, it works.