Prison Sentences.

[MWB]

I used to work with an ex policeman. Lovely chap he was.
We got to talking one day about prison sentences. He believed that sentences should be in total, total isolation. He said for there to be no one to talk to, no radios, no TV, no books, no window, no nothing. He said the sentence wouldn't be anywhere near as long & the crims would never want to come back.
He also said the sentence should only be for a few months; not for it to send them mad or break them.
I've thought about this for a long time & I now agree with him.
What do ABers think?

[sara3]

I think it would be tantamount to torture and definitely contrary to the Human Rights Act.

[Rosetta]

What a horrible thought.

[MWB]

Yeah, but the prison system isn't exactly working as it is now, is it?
I don't think it's horrible.
And I don't think it would go against the Human Rights Act. Nor any civil libertarian nonsense.
They'll be fed, watered & kept warm & dry!

[jake-the-peg]

I think the last person you ought to listen to about prison sentences is a policeman.

In my experience their working lives tend to make them unduely cynical and suspicious.

Maybe you should take the opinion of a social worker and take an average position between the two

Seriously though your friend seems to believe in the notion of a deterrant.

Remember deterrants are useless against people who don't think they will be caught - I'd suggest that covers an awful lot of crime.

What is necessary is a much higher belief that criminals will actually be caught.

Of course your friend won't subscribe to that view as he'll see it as criticism of the Police

[sara3]

I would agree that prison doesn't work but I don't think thisis the answer.

http://www.prisoncommission.org/statements/gra ssian_stuart_long.pdf

PS - I haven't read it all, I have to get ready for work!

[Jillius]

I think that is what prisons should be like. Total hell holes where people would never want to go or go back to. Why should they be equipped with all mod cons and luxuries? No wonder people reoffend to get back in. They probably have it better in prison than they ever did at home.
Having said that, a few innocent people are jailed for crimes they did not commit so it would be very unfair on them but it would be suitable for murderers like Ian Huntley and Roy Whiting who are the scum of the earth and who deserve nothing better.

[MWB]

Jake, there is not enough monies to create a belief that they will be caught. But I do believe it.

In the meantime, this sort of deterrent might just help.

[jake-the-peg]

Deterrant doesn't work

US - Death Penalty - murder rate?

Here's a million quid in a suitcase

- if you steal and are caught it you'll hang
- there's a million to one chance you'll ever be caught

All harsher penalties do is make Mail readers feel better and they still want more!

You need higher detection rates and better visibility of them and better programs of resettling offenders.

Kicking them out of prison with a few quid in their pocket - what do you think will happen in a weeks time?

[MWB]

But the "horror' of going back to complete isolation would, I believe, work as a deterrent. I for one would hate it.
And yes, I did say i didn't think it would be horrible. What I mean is, is. it's horrible to be isolated, but not horrible to do it as a punishment.

[terambulan]

No-nothing - but food ofcourse and just one's mind and memory......sounds good to me! S'pose it depends on persons age and size of 'brain filing cabinet.'

Panorama yesterday showed young men in prison for knife crimes. To me they looked very remorseful and saw the error of their ways - for that I think prisons do work. Young men I know who have 'done time' in youth centres now go 'straight' as they dread entering adult prisons......again,prisons do work.

[jake-the-peg]

But I repeat

If you don't think you'll be caught or you act on impulse or under drugs

Detterence doesn't work

I think you may be thinking as MWB and not some druggie or brainless drunken thug.

Designing a Criminal Justice sytem that would work for you isn't very bright

Unless you're planning a crime spree you've not told us about?

[jake-the-peg]

terambulum

If prisons work why do 2/3rds reoffend?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6312863.stm

Why do we have the highest prison population in Europe?

[ladybird49]

Chain gangs for them

[Jillius]

Exactly docspock ! They have everyting in prisons, from gyms to games consoles, sky tv etc. Ridiculous !

[sara3]

yes, bread and water, I say!

[Jillius]

This human rights thing sickens me no end ! What about the rights of their victims ? That doesn't seem to count at all.