Re: Should Jail terms of six months or less should be scrapped?
 

The USA has the highest incarceration rate in the world, so not sure what they do has a deterrent effect...

Re: Should Jail terms of six months or less should be scrapped?
 

This was a interesting article about America's high incarceration rate.

https://edition.cnn.com/2018/06/28/u...cts/index.html

Re: Should Jail terms of six months or less should be scrapped?
 

You know why they give those sentences because their appeals system has multiple layers, all of which can take time of, their parole system allows you to go before the panel after serving 20% of your sentence, like most things politicians are involved with they're designed to mostly make them look good, like they're tough on crime, scratching the surface reveals it's not as simple as that or as honest

They've also got a terrible rate of recidivism mainly because due to inmates becoming institutionalised due to violence. I have long suspected nothing is done about it on purpose by those running prisons, a rehabilitated person won't be going back and won't be making money for them anymore. Much like their health system why anyone would choose to follow their penal system is beyond me

Re: Should Jail terms of six months or less should be scrapped?
 

I do know the the USA locks up more people that the Chinese, but this is due to the 3 strikes policy.

But then they execute people for the worst crimes.

Re: Should Jail terms of six months or less should be scrapped?
 

Plus the use of chain gangs... get them out cleaning the bloody streets.

Re: Should Jail terms of six months or less should be scrapped?
 

Me thinks that abolishing the short term sentences are being looked at because they can mean the prisoner loses much - family, job, home - and also "learns" in gaol how to do the bad things better.

The upshot is that it doesn't reform the criminal but makes them worse. So someone given a few weeks for shoplifting comes out more likely to repeat or escalate.

Habitual criminals can and should be sentenced to imprisonment but that likely should be longer term.

For some cultures that have an honour/shame motivation some form of public shaming could work better than a simple punishment.

Re: Should Jail terms of six months or less should be scrapped?
 

Where there currently is a less than 6 month sentence, we are talking about people who are not exactly first-time offenders, so the argument of making them worse is nonsense.


There has to be a deterrent effect of some sort.


What do you do when they don't obey the community order or whatever?
Examples from website of my local newspaper(names and addresses omitted).
Unless they're jailed for more than 6 months, a community/supervision order is meaningless

Re: Should Jail terms of six months or less should be scrapped?
 

I think that's the point. The term should be longer than 12 months (6 months) as short term sentences have all the minuses and none (or very few) of the pluses.

Short term does not give the system time to meet with the offender and work through issues - maybe including treatment.

If the difference between a fine and a term in gaol is bigger it could mean less failing to comply.

Re: Should Jail terms of six months or less should be scrapped?
 

Another problem is the different 'types' of crime - as dealt with in law (or whatever).

You get a jail term for non payment of certain things (council tax used to be one) yet not for stealing cars or burglary.

System needs an update IMO

I agree with the ministers!!

They dont have enough room now to put people..... Get rid of all but the most serious offenders!!

Re: Should Jail terms of six months or less should be scrapped?
 

I agree with scrapping it.

Military type boot camps for under 25’s. & Orange boiler suit community service for everyone else.

Re: Should Jail terms of six months or less should be scrapped?
 

Pink surely for the maximum humiliation. ;)

Re: Should Jail terms of six months or less should be scrapped?
 

People pay a fortune to get sprayed orange.;)

Re: Should Jail terms of six months or less should be scrapped?
 

yes but Trump can afford it :)

Re: Should Jail terms of six months or less should be scrapped?
 

I think everyone is missing why this has come up in the news in the first place.

Don;t kid yourselves, its numbers pure and simple, currently the prisons are struggling, they are full, likely overfull.

Mrs May's wonderful cut back decision making process has resulted in prison officers leaving in droves and you're hearing quite often now of places where the prisons are simply not in control.

I wonder what % of prisoner total is made up by the 6 month or less lot?

It certainly will thin out the population somewhat, and every little helps currently.