My vote is for less incarceration. Incarceration is incongruous wth a species that understands space and time and can destroy planets. Rehabilitation is appropriate. Spend less on belligerence and more on education and community infrastructure.
The report Prison, Community Sentencing and Crime released by the think-tank Civitas says that less incarceration and more community service is not effective. But the report appears to be politically biaised and disingeniously failing to suggest solutions to prison overcrowding and reoffending. It fails to mention the positive impact of effective community service programmes:
Roma Hooper, founder and director of Make Justice Work – which campaigns to abolish short-term prison sentences – said many prisoners found community punishments harder than jail. She said: “I think what is interesting is that [the report] does say that well resourced and well delivered community sentences can work. … I have met people in prison who find it much easier than on a community sentence where they have to get up in the morning and do something useful. … There is a massive amount of evidence that shows once you serve a prison sentence the deterrent effect has gone.”
A Ministry of Justice spokesman said community sentences could be a cost-effective and rigorous alternative to prison. “The rate of reoffending by offenders following short prison sentences is 61% compared to 36% for those on community sentences.”
Prison, Community Sentencing and Crime by the think-tank Civitas
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