Are we too soft on crime? Should prison sentences be longer ie. Life means life?

Question

Gromit801:- Actually this is England!

Answer 1

An actual prison sentence at all would be nice!

The problem we have now in this country is too much emphasis on civil and human rights and seemingly no consideration for the victims of crime and the law abiding citizens. The results being that most criminals are given 'another chance' and a community rehabilitation order resulting in them going straight back to the communities that they wronged in the first place thus allowing them to continue to commit crime, which most do.

I personally think that if prison sentences were longer, prisons were less like holiday camps and more people were put in prison, then crime figures may fall.

I'm not suggesting that we should treat people badly, that would obviously be wrong but if we make the punishment an actual punishment then criminals might think twice about committing crime.

I would suggest a plain prison cell with a bed, toilet and washing facilities. Basic entertainment and exercise facilities and basic food. This would certainly be cheaper than most of the facilities that prisoners get now such as state of the art gym equipment and Sky TV etc.

As for human rights, they should be forfeit when the prison terms starts.

Let's consider the human rights of the victim for a change such as the burglary victims right to privacy and family life which is breached when their home is desecrated by the burglar.

Answer 2

Oh gosh life should mean life but this is England let a prisoner say the right thing in front of a parole board and that's it they are out to start all over again
there should have been more prisons built many years ago
then we wouldn't be were we are now letting trouble walk the streets to terrorise Innocent people
after they do there little community service
makes me sick what i see come out them courts brimming there teeth knowing they have been let of stuff to go do it again
think we should have the 3 strikes
sorry if people don't agree but that's what i think
Respect
shaz

Answer 3

No, having worked in a prison I realised that few people have a full idea of how much a punishment it is. It is all too easy to talk about people serving "only 5 years" or "only 10 years". A colleague of mine put it best - imagine spending 10 years when the only decision you make each day is chips or mash. I witnessed first hand the psychological damage that the loss liberty has on people and the corresponding neurosis and psychosis that it causes. Depression is epidemic in prisons even in in prisoners severing relatively short sentences.

Additionally, it is much misunderstood what a life sentence means. When sentences to life, a prisoner does come under the remit of the Home Office for the rest of their life. They may not spend all that time in custody but if released, they are released on licence. This licence may be revoked at any time and for any reason. Any condition may be places on the licence. Once sentences to life a person is never at liberty in the same way as you and I are.

Prison is a very serious thing. Best avoided.

Answer 4

Yes Life should mean life. If you do the crime - you should do the time. And I also think the sentences should be stricter. People get off too easy. The prisons should also be a terrible place to be so that there would not be so many repeat offenders who actually like jail.

Answer 5

Yes we are too soft! My step dad was jailed for life in 1998 for killing my mum. He will be out next year and is already getting weekend release from prison to rehabilitate him!!!! How is that a life sentence? It's the victims and the victims family that serve the life sentence :'(

Answer 6

Far too soft on genuine criminals, but too tough on non-criminals, meaning people who don't pay their Council Tax, etc.
Yes, life should mean life, not just 15 years, or sometimes less. If prisons are too full more should be built, and I can't understand why that isn't happening. If holding centres for innocent immigrants can be made available, why not prisons for guilty prisoners? It doesn't make sense.

Answer 7

Yes we are too soft on crime, proven by the fact that it is running out of control with ferrel yobs running wild. Neighbours from hell getting ASBO'S after fifty warnings and then being evicted and moved on to torment others. More knife crime. More gun crime.I could go on and on.
There is a simple answer but nobody, least of all the government, will do anything about it.
Solve this statement to find it?
THERE IS NO DETERRENT !!!!!!
We are all doomed!

Answer 8

Yes. In my opinion the justice system in the US does a great job of being fair across races, classes etc in determining guilt the sentencing is not really fair nor is it long enough in general to deter, or punish crime.

However, ex-cons point out that once sentencing is done, almost all prisons have early release programs based on good behavior which is supposedly the only incentive for inmates to exhibit good behavior. However, in cases of extremely good behavior a sentence can be reduced by about 40% which is too much for me. There have been many many criminals who exhibited perfect behavior while in prison only to become repeat offenders while in public.

Answer 9

They are not hard enough at ALL

THE JUSTICE system is a JOKE and any Way ppl are only serving 10% of their sentence,U have to take the law into yr hands, But face it This world is OVer all ready

Answer 10

If you have never been incarcerated (and I assume that you haven't), you don't really have a feel for this issue. Many felons don't feel as if they have done wrong. Many don't view prison as a deterrent, but rather as a consequence of getting caught (getting caught, mind you, not actually doing wrong, but getting caught). An overwhelming percentage will tell you that they are in prison because they had a bad lawyer, or someone ratted them out, etc., etc., but rarely will they take responsibility and say "I'm here because I broke the law."

It's a game to many people, and why shouldn't it be? We have sub-standard public education in most of our poor areas (and, IMHO, in most of our upper and middle class areas as well), we brand our citizens as felons and take away thier rights...why shouldn't they commit more crime?

America has the highest percentage of incarceration of ANY industrialized democracy. Something is broken in our system, and it goes well beyond the length of prison sentences.