What do you think about the current prison sentences row?

Question

How many prison places could be built with the money wasted on the 2012 Olympics? We're going to have loads more dangerous scum wandering around soon thanks to our wonderful Home Secretary, like this case in the news today.

From the BBC: A man who downloaded child pornography to his computer has escaped jail after the home secretary asked judges to limit prison terms due to overcrowding. Judge John Rogers QC gave Derek Williams, 46, a suspended sentence, saying he had to consider "the current sentencing climate", telling Mold Crown Court: "As of yesterday, I have to bear in mind a communication from the home secretary."

WTF??

Answer 1

if the consequences were not so serious . it would be a complete joke!

Answer 2

In this country, California's prisons deteriorated into a horrible mess because politicians did not provide oversight. They wanted to be seen as being tough on crime rather than actually providing good governance. It did not work and made things worse.

If long sentences were a deterrent, there would have been a drop in crime, not prisons filled to 173 percent of capacity. The federal government took over the prison medical care because it was so bad. There is a deadline for easing crowding or the feds will take over the rest of the California prison system. That will be very expensive for Californians.

Sentencing and parole reforms and rehabilitation are required and will make us all safer when inmates are released--as most will be. They would certainly save us money.

Some want to build additional prisons. That patch that could help overcrowding in a small way. But, where do we stop--when every town has its own state prison?

We should begin sending the mentally ill to special prisons where they can receive proper medicine and help, rather than warehousing them with other inmates.

Nelson Mandela said you don't know a country until you've seen the inside of its prisons. Californians are appalled that their prisons went from among the best in the nation to the worse.

Answer 3

To me it seems like a green light for any law breaker out there. if the police bother to pursue you and you get caught, then no problem the Judge wont send you to prison as they are full. Judge John Rogers was obviously making his point by not sentencing Derek Williams, But having watched him being interviewed on TV, I would not like to be in his shoe's and looking at remarks from his neighbour's i think you'll find that they will sentence him in their own way Vigilante style.Is this what this country has come down to ?

Answer 4

This makes me ill! If all states would put up tents with an out-door johnny on the spot toilet, with no air-conditioning and no color tv's & must eat a bolonga sandwich daily as a meal from a brown paper bag, things may change. This is done in Flordia & Alabama. for many years now. They grow & work all the food they grow & raise cows & pigs for meat. My ex-son-law said in Texarkana they were permitted to rent movies, Can you believe this! We must change the way things are done now! They eat & sleep in better conditions than most of the average household. All the prisoners I beleive in Alabama had to wear pink underwear. I feel that all sex offenders that are caught should not be allowed out on bond, if must, then a $5 Million should keep them all behind bars.

Answer 5

i'm beneficial the guy you assaulted could disagree. detention center is meant to be a deterrant. Why could we'd like criminals serving the community with the prospect there to dedicate greater crime. Why could we'd like greater human beings on curfew whilst we've already got many human beings breaching curfews. in case you're under lock and key then the customary public can relax certain that they are risk-free from you or the different convicted criminal for that length of time. in case you question me, construct greater prisons and make human beings serve what they have been sentenced to and not 0.5 (what a shaggy dog tale). detention center should not be an undemanding holiday. in case you do no longer like it then I advise you preserve your nostril clean!

Answer 6

I think they should think about spending more on rehabilitation of the current inmates and who is actually in our prisons. Firstly lets make it clear that any immigrants of any kind who commit crimes in this country are shipped back home, with their families and never allowed back, secondly what about the inmates who have been diagnosed with a mental illness? Surely they should be housed by the NHS- lets make special facilities for them. Next there are people who are in prison for theft and burglary, offering vocational training or drug rehabilitation may mean that they have no need to re offend? Why are prostitutes in our prisons? They are not a threat to the community!!! People in prison for fraud? Why, just give them an obscene fine. I am a 21 yr old with a couple of gcse's and training in childcare. I am no great genius but surely what I have said is common sense? Why are the government so intent on behaving so ridiculously. The way things are going it will be cheaper to put all the non criminals inside the prisons and let the prisoners roam free!!! They should stop ploughing money into prisoners luxuries like tv's, play stations and other recreational facilities... this is supposed to be a punishment and half of these low lives have a better environment inside than out!!!!! It should be drippy damp stone walls with drafty rusty barred windows and a bucket to pee in and a rationed diet. Prison is not deterrant these days! Our government have got it all wrong- vote me for pm, I'd sort it out!!!!!

Answer 7

I would gladly pay more taxes or forgo the Olympics to build more prisons asap.
I want people that have been convicted, to serve their full sentence.
I don't give a toss about rehabilitation or whether they commit more crimes when they do come out, without having had it.
I want Judges to be able to hand out appropriate sentences that fit the crime.
I want a life sentence to mean life. I don't care that we have the highest prison population etc etc.
If people don't like our laws or the way we live, lock 'em up or chuck 'em out!

Yes, that would do me nicely.

Answer 8

That depends on how much money their going to spend on the 2012 olympics...my guess is an awful lot. But if they start to build new prisons on land the amount of offenders could double.But were'nt they going to have floating prisons?

Answer 9

I think the situation is disgusting. It is just going to give power to the ones who are breaking the law ie. burglars and muggers etc. Now they know that they won't go to prison, nothing will stop them. I think the home secretary should be put behind bars, for making such a stupid rule.!!

Answer 10

The man downloading pornography was not a danger to the public, so why should the tax payer fund his stay in prison?

Building yet more prisons is not the answer. We need to start again with the entire Criminal Justice system. As a starter try to identify potential future offenders at school age and target resources to reduce the risks.

Answer 11

This Unbelievable situation is Just another example of a Bunch of Lunatics that are Calling themselves "Government" Screwing up our Country -- even when you see any of them on Television ,In the Press you can tell without Doubt that they are a shower of Bungling Prats who couldn,t run a "One Ticket" Raffle -A bunch of Greedy , Self Seeking ,Lying, Cheating Incompetent Bastards --- who are "Hell Bent" on Destroying "Great Britain"