If short prison sentences are shown to not work, maybe it's time to make the experience sufficiently unpleasant so that after their release they have no wish to repeat it.
They've tried that in US. It doesn't work.
Something over half of UK prison population receive drug or alcohol treatment during any one year. Of the rest a significant number have mental health problems. Unless they're banged up 23 hours a day how do you keep discipline? They need proper treatment and effective rehabilitation.
Some new figures released today make interesting reading regarding short sentences.
It's worse than we thought.
"Criminals jailed for six months or less have committed more than 50 previous offences on average, new figures show in a blow to Ministry of Justice (MoJ) plans to abolish short sentences.
Offenders sentenced to immediate custodial terms of up to six months in England and Wales had on average 55.9 previous offences resulting in convictions or cautions, according to MoJ data.
The figures - released in parliamentary answers - also showed offenders locked up for six months or less had on average been given five previous community sentences"
You say that the USA system doesn't work -
It's clear that the current UK system - If that's what you call it- doesn't work either.
That's why they wish to change it...because it is not working at the moment,
Making things worse. How about, at the offenders expense (up front), they do supervised community service - proper hard work (no, not breaking up rocks) for the council that they can't afford to do - clearing ditches, clearing up graffiti, chewing gum, litter from the hedgerows.
Something, that when they are finished each day (this will be for several months), they are knacked and have no energy to go burgling, get into a fight down the pub (haven't got the money and are barred from all local establishments for 5 years if that was their crime) or suchlike. In return, they get vouchers for basic necessities like food, clothing, electricity, gas, basic phone and council tax.
All ill-gotten gains that can be returned to their original owners, those remaining should be sold and the money put into specific funds to benefit the victims of each type of crime generally (compensation).
If, after they finish their sentence, they fall back into crime or get caught for something they didn't admit to before, then the sentence is doubled, tripled (depending on the nature of the crime and how many they are convicted of) or sent to prison where they STILL do all the community service for 8hrs a day (like people going to work) for the same reason. Evenings are a mixture of education/training (again, paid for by the criminals) and a small amount of leisure time (including participating in sports or other useful activities).
Three strikes, even on low level crime and you're in prison for a minimum term, with longer sentences implied if they don't behave themselves. Instead of getting vouchers/money in prison, 'wages' get paid directly into funds benefitting victims. On their release, they get a tax break and assistance getting into a job on the assurance that they don't commit any crimes in the next X amount of time.
If they do, they then are recalled back to prison to serv the remainder of the 'add-on' sentence (all at their expense). If thet have no money left, they will have to contribute an agreed amount each month taken (like tax) directly from their salary to pay for it.
How's that?
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