Prisons don't work, 67%+ reoffend often in a worse way. Is it time to become more drastic what would you do?

Question

We are paying over thirty thousand pound a year for a prisoner to be kept. When we release them there are more costs and they are likely to reoffend. I don't want prisoners released to reoffend and i don't want to pay for their upkeep anyone got a solution?

Further if they are a rapist, or mugger and they attacked your mum/wife/girlfriend/sister/child would that make a difference?

Answer 1

All those second offense criminals should be put into jobs that a hard and dirty and dangerous, that kill too many GOOD men way too young...like coal mining (or any other deeply underground mining work). Run the whole mining operation as a penal site, and make them earn their keep.

I am sure there are a lot of jobs that others can think of that could be better done by criminals whom society has to support currently. And maybe even have the money earned by these criminals (once their keep is paid) go towards compensating their victims.

Answer 2

Just like a lot of things in this country...its a joke...its more of a B&B than prison....this country has been too soft & tolerant for years now....too many do gooders poking there nose in...making axcuses for people....peodophiles have an illness???? what the f**k is all that about....they are sick twisted b*tards who should lose all human rights...then there's repeat offenders...they obviously havent learnt from there punishments & so carry on offending...i think everyone should be given a chance, after all nobodys perfect but my brother has escaped prison around 15 times...by the skin of his teeth - burgurlary, arson, street robbery, criminal damage, assault, fraud...the list goes on!!! he uses the fact that his mum is an alcaholic & that he's had a troubled childhood to get him off - well i was brought up exactley the same way as he was but i still know right from wrong....brother or not...as much as it hurts me, he needs taking of the streets for the safety of others....National service should be made compulsory....i think it would sort out a lot of these deadbeats costing thousands & thousands of pounds that could be put to much better use...

Answer 3

Hmm, a rather reactionary lot on here aren't you? Personally I don't see any easy solution to this problem. There is little or no evidence that locking up people for life, or even imposing the death penalty for any or all crimes has any effects on crime statistics, just look at the USA with three strikes and out and the death penalty in various states.
Certainly something needs to be done in the UK to address the problem. We currently have the lowest crime ratings on record, but also the highest prison population ever which suggests the prevention methods are failing but detection and conviction rates are rising.
Personally I'd favour the education and rehabilitation of prisoners. The evidence available points to the fact that prison, at the moment, only educates inmates to be better criminals and get better at not getting caught. Also drugs and alcohol are freely available in all prisons, making the rehabilitation of addicts nigh on impossible.
Unfortunately proper and effective measures along the lines of education, rehabilitation and drug rehabilitation will cost a lot more money than at present, and that is unlikely to ever be popular with the majority of the tax paying public.
However, the alternative is to carry on as we are, with spiralling costs to build more prisoners and to cover early release on a tagging system. Basically pay up to stay as we are or pay up more to try and improve the situation...

Answer 4

Robin Masefield, Head of Prison Service in Northern Ireland recently admitted that the majority of those currently serving custodial sentences suffer from serious mental illnesses and personality disorders. Surely many of these people are incapable of forming criminal intent and should be receiving treatment rather than punishment.
I believe that prisons should be used to punish and rehabilitate genuine criminals. I also believe that certain categories of criminals such as violent sex attackers should be detained indefinitely either in a prison or a secure hospital. However, let's see automatic psychological examination of all prisoners on conviction, then we can consider the proper role of prisons.

Answer 5

1. Expand use of capital punishment. Is there really any rehabilitation for murderers, violent rapists or pedophiles? Remember, executed prisoners have a 0% recidivism rate.

The current method of releasing sex criminals then putting them on a list because they're still dangerous should cause a headache from the obvious cognitive dissonance of the action. If they're dangerous, why are they out? Uh, hello!

2. Should people get lighter sentences because of their incompetence? Why should somebody who planned to murder someone and who took the action to murder someone get a lighter sentence because he failed to kill his target? We need to stop distinguishing between 'attempted' crimes and successfully completed crimes.

3. Increased use of corporal punishment and home confinement. A good public caning for lesser crimes, followed by a tethered home confinement (but with allowance and encouragement to work) would probably be quicker, more effective, more efficient, and significantly less burden on the taxpayer.

4. All theft, including embezzlement, should include a required reimbursement in full - with no possessions should be off limits - the house, the car, the retirement, whatever. If the thief's family suffers, then it is his fault - because they probably benefitted from his crimes in the first place.

5. Drug crimes of possession for personal use should be treated by rehab and home confinement. It is more effective to eliminate the demand than interdict the supply. Either that or just end the criminalization of some drugs, like weed.

Answer 6

First we need to decide if, as a society, we want to use Prisons to rehabilitate or punish. To my mind, prison should be the ultimate deterrent (I'm totally against Death Sentence). No SkyTV, no pool/snooker, no cell-mates. Three basic meals a day and regular exercise. I heard of a super-max prison in Colerado that is similar but allows TV's in each cell that only transmit educational programmes.

But there is a difference between crimes against property and crimes against people. To my mind, any person who has violated someone elses basic human rights should forfeit their own during the punishment phase.

Furthermore this "three strikes then out" policy is rubbish! If someone reoffends it's because they have a liking/need to reoffend and that the deterrent offered is not strong enough. The second offence should result in a custodial sentence which should seek to punish the individual for their crimes against society, not rehabilitation where we apologise for society making them that way and try to make them happy about themselves.

Perhaps another way is to put all prisoners to work for the community during the day. Get convicted criminals to sweep the streets, clear the drains, empty our dustbins, mow the grass verges etc.

Answer 7

You say that 67% re-offend. I would rephrase that as 67% get caught re-offending. The figure of those that re-offend will be so much higher. But the statistics are for those who get caught.
The trouble with prison is that it teaches criminals how to be criminals. They also don't do enough to integrate offenders when they are released. Prisons should be used as punishment and rehabilitation of offenders to allow them to be safe in society when they are released.
One day Ian Huntley will be back on our streets. I would be alot happier knowing that he had had all the therapy and help he needs to not do the same thing when he comes out. So I think the answer is in better rehabilitation of offenders.

Answer 8

I think you have to go to the root of this issue. How many scumbags in this country had parents who were scumbags and their parents were scumbags. Stop these 'people' from breeding. Yea i know its drastic and possibly a bit fascist but desperate times! Whats the best way to stop some 17 year old stabbing a guy outside a pub in the year 2021, dont let him exist in the first place. Crime levels in this country would drop by about 80%. But its a case over who decides who can breed and who cant.

Answer 9

I am only surprised that only 67% reoffend. By their very nature, prisoners are already reoffenders. They have been involved in criminal activity for a long time before they go to prison (except for the worst offences).

They have committed loads of crime and got away with it, had conditional discharges, probation, community service, suspended sentences.

By the time they get to prison they are so far down the road of criminality it is far too late to rehabilitate them. How about this plan.

Release ALL non-violent and non-sex offenders from prison, on condition that, should they reoffend, they will go to prison for 10 years with no hope of parole.

Sentence ALL first-time offenders to one week in prison. This to be spent in solitary confinement and subject them to a rigorous education and rehabilitation programme.

ALL burglars to get 3 years imprisonment for a first offence, with no parole; 10 years for a second, no parole; life for a third.

Fixed, no parole, prison sentences for ALL offences.

The trouble with our system is (a) the chance of getting caught is low; (b) the chance of getting a prison sentence is low; (c) prison sentences are massively reduced in any event; (d) prison is too easy. (Not to you or I, but many criminals' homes are fairly basic - in prison they get three meals a day, TV, mix with a load of their mates and have no bills or other worries to concern them.)

Answer 10

Prisons need more rehab involved with offenses lower than murder. Also, like you said, many will reoffend, like murderers, rapists, and child molesters. I for one do not think people who do any of the three things I mentioned should see the light of day again. Its not fair to us and its not safe. Too often you hear about someone who kills or rapes or molests and even kills a child, they have a history of related offenses. Its sickening that we would let them roam free. Maybe it is time to use more drastic punishment. I dont know. I wouldnt want an innocent person to suffer for a crime they didnt commit but at the same time I want these people kept off the streets.