Comments on: Revolving-Door Justice http://scottsafetyshop.com/blog/2006/08/19/revolving-door-justice/ I use this blog to provide safety, self-defense, and security information, addressing topics such as domestic abuse, teen violence, and violent crime prevention. Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:55:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Terry http://scottsafetyshop.com/blog/2006/08/19/revolving-door-justice/#comment-52 Terry Wed, 01 Nov 2006 23:03:33 +0000 http://scottsafetyshop.com/blog/?p=44#comment-52 80% of the prison population in England and Wales are inside becauuse of drug and alcohol related crimes. A large number of those with whom I work have had atrocious parenting, poor schooling and lousy role models. Many need a firm, loving and supportive regime in the community, but to concentrate problems in a prison or indeed ain a dry house, where all those have the same propensity to take drugs even if at the time they are not is stupid. 80% of the prison population in England and Wales are inside becauuse of drug and alcohol related crimes. A large number of those with whom I work have had atrocious parenting, poor schooling and lousy role models. Many need a firm, loving and supportive regime in the community, but to concentrate problems in a prison or indeed ain a dry house, where all those have the same propensity to take drugs even if at the time they are not is stupid.

]]> By: Martyn http://scottsafetyshop.com/blog/2006/08/19/revolving-door-justice/#comment-50 Martyn Wed, 01 Nov 2006 21:07:02 +0000 http://scottsafetyshop.com/blog/?p=44#comment-50 Scott, I fully support your point of view. I am a prison officer in a high security prison. Two days ago a prisoner approached me and ended up sobbing. He acknowleges that he is an alcaholic and has never been arrested whilst sober. The last time he was at my prison he received an 8 week sentence and started on a rehabilitation course. Overcrouding pressures saw him transferred out of my establishment to a prison in the north of England, where he could not continue his rehabilitation. A few weeks later he was given a train ticket back to London, got off at Kings Cross and went to the nearest Pub, being homeless, having lost his council flat through being in prison. He got drunk, broke his anti-social behaviour order and was arrested. After an appearance in front of the magistrate, he was sent back to me! So the revolving door continues to turn.... Mark & Mike, Clearly you have never seen the inner workings of a prison. The modern service now has an almost hostpital ethos, where prisoners are treated more like patients. The idea that people should not be sent to prison for committing a serious crime, simply because they may learn to commit a more serious crime, is bizarre to say the least; I wonder if you would continue with this notion if you or a close member of your family were the victim. You must remember that 'prison' is the punitive element to a sentence for a serious offence. The alternative is to have all muggers and burlars living next door to you! Martyn Scott,
I fully support your point of view. I am a prison officer in a high security prison. Two days ago a prisoner approached me and ended up sobbing. He acknowleges that he is an alcaholic and has never been arrested whilst sober. The last time he was at my prison he received an 8 week sentence and started on a rehabilitation course. Overcrouding pressures saw him transferred out of my establishment to a prison in the north of England, where he could not continue his rehabilitation. A few weeks later he was given a train ticket back to London, got off at Kings Cross and went to the nearest Pub, being homeless, having lost his council flat through being in prison. He got drunk, broke his anti-social behaviour order and was arrested. After an appearance in front of the magistrate, he was sent back to me! So the revolving door continues to turn….

Mark & Mike,
Clearly you have never seen the inner workings of a prison. The modern service now has an almost hostpital ethos, where prisoners are treated more like patients. The idea that people should not be sent to prison for committing a serious crime, simply because they may learn to commit a more serious crime, is bizarre to say the least; I wonder if you would continue with this notion if you or a close member of your family were the victim. You must remember that ‘prison’ is the punitive element to a sentence for a serious offence. The alternative is to have all muggers and burlars living next door to you!

Martyn

]]> By: Mark Kenny http://scottsafetyshop.com/blog/2006/08/19/revolving-door-justice/#comment-20 Mark Kenny Wed, 23 Aug 2006 22:06:51 +0000 http://scottsafetyshop.com/blog/?p=44#comment-20 I agree. I find prison is nothing more than a training ground for criminals, I've often heard this view reflected by inmates while being interviewed. Clearly prison is not the answer. I agree. I find prison is nothing more than a training ground for criminals, I’ve often heard this view reflected by inmates while being interviewed. Clearly prison is not the answer.

]]> By: Mike http://scottsafetyshop.com/blog/2006/08/19/revolving-door-justice/#comment-9 Mike Tue, 22 Aug 2006 15:46:24 +0000 http://scottsafetyshop.com/blog/?p=44#comment-9 This is so right. However, I don't agree with the premise that prison rehabilitates. If you take a poorly behaved child and put him in a group of well behaved children, he will begin to behave better. If you take a well behaved child and put him a group of poorly behaved children, he will begin to behave poorly. This is so right. However, I don’t agree with the premise that prison rehabilitates. If you take a poorly behaved child and put him in a group of well behaved children, he will begin to behave better. If you take a well behaved child and put him a group of poorly behaved children, he will begin to behave poorly.

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