Crime and PunishmentCrime and Punishment

Mr. A. HardieMr. A. Hardie

““Bang them up in prison” Bang them up in prison” That’ll cut the crime rate.That’ll cut the crime rate.

Prison on 21/02/2003Prison on 21/02/2003

Population TodayPopulation Today 71,98671,986

Population on Population on corresponding Friday corresponding Friday last yearlast year

69,57369,573

(+ 2,413)(+ 2,413)

Prison Population Prison Population 21/02/200321/02/2003

This WeekThis Week Last WeekLast Week

Adult MalesAdult Males 57, 31157, 311 57,07957,079

Young Young Offenders- Offenders- MaleMale

10, 39810, 398 10, 41310, 413

Adult FemalesAdult Females 3, 7033, 703 3, 6983, 698

Young Young Offenders- Offenders- FemaleFemale

574574 583583

Recorded crime in the UKRecorded crime in the UK

Prison PopulationPrison Population

• By the turn of the By the turn of the century, British century, British jails held more jails held more than 60, 000 than 60, 000 people.people.

• The type of The type of criminals varies criminals varies greatlygreatly

• In 1995, there were In 1995, there were over 4,000 prisoners over 4,000 prisoners serving life sentences serving life sentences for murder.for murder.

• In the same year In the same year 20,000 were 20,000 were sentenced to sentenced to imprisonment for imprisonment for non-payment of fines.non-payment of fines.

Is Prison the best option?Is Prison the best option?

• Many people say Many people say that prison is not that prison is not the best option. the best option.

• Having mixed with Having mixed with other criminals they other criminals they argue it reinforces argue it reinforces criminal tendencies criminal tendencies and on release the and on release the offender is likely to offender is likely to break the law break the law again.again.

• 57% of all prisoners 57% of all prisoners released in 1996 released in 1996 were reconvicted were reconvicted of breaking the law of breaking the law within 2 years of within 2 years of leaving prison.leaving prison.

• Among young male Among young male offenders this offenders this percentage rose percentage rose 76%76%

Talking PointsTalking Points

“Prisons are the nearest thing to hell on

earth that have ever been created”. (Prison

governor).

To send a woman to prison is to take away

her family; her children in particular may suffer from this

deprivation, which can lead to the break up of the home even where

there is a stable marriage” (A woman

prisoner)

In the morning at ten past seven we get unlocked and then it’s communal slopping out, we all empty

our bowls and chambers from the night before and then we go down to breakfast, eat it in the

cell, get washed, shaved and then lounge around until nine, until they open the doors again. And

then we are locked up again until 11 o’clock, we’ll have half an hour’s exercise, have our dinner, go upstairs, collect the mail if there is mail, and then we are locked up again until about ten past two.

Then it's slopping out again and then we’re locked up again until about half past three. Then we have

another half an hour’s exercise, lock up again, then at 4 o’clock go down and get our tea, come back, and then we’re locked up again until about six o’clock, then we slop out again, get rid of our trays- and then that’s it ‘til we’re locked up again

all night

More Talking Points…More Talking Points…

“Keep in mind those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them”.

(Hebrews 13:3)

Punishment or Punishment or Rehabilitation?Rehabilitation?

• ““Imprisonment does not deter. We have a Imprisonment does not deter. We have a record number of people in prison and a record number of people in prison and a record crime rate” (Robert Kilroy- Silk)record crime rate” (Robert Kilroy- Silk)

Punishment or Punishment or Rehabilitation?Rehabilitation?

• There are 165 prisons and There are 165 prisons and young offenders institutes young offenders institutes around Britainaround Britain

• 20% of the population are 20% of the population are criminals needing special criminals needing special treatment or caretreatment or care

• The great majority are The great majority are young men under 30 young men under 30 convicted of drink, drugs convicted of drink, drugs and car offences.and car offences.

• Most are semi-literate from Most are semi-literate from backgrounds where they backgrounds where they have had little emotional have had little emotional or moral support.or moral support.

Punishment or Punishment or Rehabilitation?Rehabilitation?• The average UK prison sentence is one yearThe average UK prison sentence is one year

• During this time the tax payer will fund bills During this time the tax payer will fund bills of twice the fees of an Eton College pupil, to of twice the fees of an Eton College pupil, to keep each prisoner confined to an keep each prisoner confined to an environment which teaches him how to environment which teaches him how to commit crime more effectivelycommit crime more effectively

• According to The Prison reform Trust, 75% According to The Prison reform Trust, 75% of those who have been in prison once, of those who have been in prison once, rapidly find themselves back inside.rapidly find themselves back inside.

Billy, 55, author’s interviewBilly, 55, author’s interview

“I have been in and out of nick for the last 35 years. I reckon to have spent no more than 5 of

them free. I can never get a job, I have no family- it’s the only place I really know. I feel

secure inside- I’ll die inside, I know that”

• How prisoners are How prisoners are dealt with is becoming dealt with is becoming increasingly importantincreasingly important

• The crime rate is The crime rate is rising and prisons are rising and prisons are overcrowdedovercrowded

• The cost of locking The cost of locking people in prison is a people in prison is a tremendous burden on tremendous burden on society.society.

Chris TchaikovskyChris Tchaikovsky

• ““I am convinced that prisons actually feed their I am convinced that prisons actually feed their own future”own future”

• ““If a prison is tough it becomes important to If a prison is tough it becomes important to prove that you can withstand it by hiding your prove that you can withstand it by hiding your real feelings”real feelings”

• ““We have tried to publicise many cases of We have tried to publicise many cases of mistreatment and neglect but little has changed mistreatment and neglect but little has changed in Britain’s closed and secret prisons”in Britain’s closed and secret prisons”

• ““Prison brutalises people…”Prison brutalises people…”• ““What is needed is … to set up centres where the What is needed is … to set up centres where the

young and disaffected can be educated, cared for young and disaffected can be educated, cared for and put together again”and put together again”

• Could “Day Prisons” be the answer?Could “Day Prisons” be the answer?

Alternatives to prisonAlternatives to prison

• Electronic TaggingElectronic Tagging• In 1999 this scheme In 1999 this scheme

was extended to the was extended to the majority of Britain.majority of Britain.

• Prisoners are not Prisoners are not allowed on this allowed on this scheme if:scheme if:

They are a risk to the They are a risk to the publicpublic

They are likely to run They are likely to run off or offend againoff or offend again

They have nowhere They have nowhere suitable to live.suitable to live.

Electronic TaggingElectronic Tagging

• AdvantagesAdvantages It is low cost (£4 per It is low cost (£4 per

day) and flexibleday) and flexibleShoplifters can be kept Shoplifters can be kept

at home during shop at home during shop hours and sex hours and sex offenders can be offenders can be stopped from going out stopped from going out at school timesat school times

It gives offenders a It gives offenders a chance of rehabilitation chance of rehabilitation and can resettle and can resettle offenders into the offenders into the communitycommunity

• DisadvantagesDisadvantagesThere can be technical There can be technical

problems (“dead problems (“dead spots”)spots”)

It cannot guarantee It cannot guarantee that the offender that the offender won’t reoffend.won’t reoffend.

Other alternativesOther alternatives

• Home Detention Home Detention Curfew schemeCurfew scheme

• 2, 914 people were on 2, 914 people were on HDC last week.HDC last week.

• In 1999, 5% of In 1999, 5% of offenders who broke offenders who broke the rules were sent the rules were sent back to prisonback to prison

• Community ServiceCommunity Service

• It costs around £25, It costs around £25, 000 per year to keep a 000 per year to keep a person in prison,person in prison,

• just over £2, 200 to just over £2, 200 to put someone on put someone on probation, probation,

• less than £2000 for a less than £2000 for a community service community service order.order.