Green light to commit crime?

Question

Recent government statistics in the UK show that our prison population has out grown accommodation space and there is no more room for new convicts. What kind of signal does this send to the entire criminal fraternity in the UK? And does it spell disaster for communities already living in fear of an unprecedented high level of street crime in some of our cities?

The crime and punishment system in this country (and for the most part in other countries too) is stuck in a time warp. Its perception of crime is medieval and its method of punishment is from antiquity. Neither the current models, nor any proposed of late, will alter the current deficit in justice because the problem is an ideological one inherited from of political thought that compels lemmings to jump off a cliff.

correction
"inherited from political thought"

Answer 1

I believe the actual 'green light' to commit crime was when the UK banned individual carrying of firearms for self defense, then chose to punish the defender instead of the criminal aggressor. According to the Home Office reports, violent crime began a rapid upward spiral after the much-publicised destruction of lawfully owned handguns in 1997.

The prison issue is a result of giving predators dominance over the law abiding population. Clearly, the predatory criminal community does not fear doing time behind bars.

Answer 2

Not really sure if there is a question here but...
My opinion is that we should always look at root cause.
-It is getting more difficult for people who have struggled through school to get jobs that will meet the life-expectations represented by the media as normal. Life is risk-based and the risks associated with crime may seem small compared to the apparent rewards.
-We have a political system which is becoming monarchic. This can lead to feudal mentality. Why not join organised crime ? It's merely another form of monarchy after all!

I suppose the real point you are trying to tease out is whether prison is viewed as a deterent at all. Eg. the recent payouts because the 'poor' inmates had to suffer because they weren't given methadone. I agree it's a real problem! They are laughing at society from a place which is supposed to be their punishment. The real problem is that prison is not feared enough.

Answer 3

Criminals haven't been in fear of the justice system for years.
To a professional criminal getting a two year sentence for armed robbery, to be released in 9 months, is acceptable.
We need to build more prisons, hand out and enforce proper sentences, bring back corporal punishment and hols children and the parents responsible for the actions of "feral gangs" roaming our streets.

Answer 4

well any normal person would think that the solution is to make more prison spaces, however the goverments brilliant idea is now to not send most criminals to prison but to let them off with prehaps a fine, and those that are getting sent to prison are getting the minimum allowed sentence with an even earlier release.

well hey thats gotta be the best way i ever heard to stop crime.

Answer 5

Depends on what they done. They've given the police the power to arrest anyone for anything, the more people they arrest the points they accumulate, unfortunately they're not picking up criminals are they, just 'joe public'. At a time where they should be building more hospitals and schools they're talking about more prisons.

Answer 6

Yes this is a sign of a problem but it can be solved easily and avoid disaster by
1) making bigger jail houses.
2) finding a way to lower the teen drop - out rate in schools.

Answer 7

You might not be aware of this, but the root causes of crime of all sorts are deeply embedded in our social structures - of the conditions of poverty - mental ill-health child-abuse including neglect.
unless these root causes are tackled the situation can only become much worse. it is all down to industrialised society and nobody caring about anybody but themselves.
HELP.

Answer 8

Hello luv...You know there are still vast amounts of space available in the South pole and North pole, you might consider sending them there. Aussies are realy nice.

Answer 9

Congrats, your system is about to be as screwed up as our system in the US is. Overcrowding, criminal "revolving door", too many thugs on probation, not enough inmates on death row actually being put to death.
Now you are playing in the big leagues!!!

Answer 10

I'm going to agree with Speakeasy, the american NRA tried to warn them, now uses them as an example.