Prison numbers reach record high

[StriderX]

Contrary to popular belief, this was bound to occur in our society.

What we must do instead of imprisoning people (only the worst should be in there really), is to make our society better...which is a rather tall order im afraid.

But the only reason some people go to crime is because the society around them expect them to, if we can help these areas be brought back up to a good standard, id imagine crime would drop.

Unfortunately, it would require jobs or some sort of philanthropy by people.

It might look like some liberal tosh, but in all fairness the liberals have forgotten the meaning of the word, but its the only way i can see this not getting worse without resorting to marshal law or genocide, both of which would confirm our societies failure.

 

[Von Smallhausen]

Oh dear.

That's not the answer to everything.

I didn't say it was. It would pay for a new HMP though with money to spare though.

 

[Jasonst888]

Bankers leave the UK, goodbye to their tax money this year and every year from now on? You dont have to like someone to recognise them as a resource, and thats what they are, driving them out of the UK with high tax achieves nothing.

Never said anything against imprisoning violent offenders, but what is the point of putting violent people all together in hellish conditions and then complain when they come out and are worse than they were before? send a monster to hell and expect him to become a bigger monster not to scare him! And the reason jails are overcrowded at the mo is all this riot business and blaming that on cushy jails is a bit of a stretch. At the end of the day american jails are generally much worse conditions than UK ones and yet their criminals re-offend far more often....now im not suggesting give those same convicts an xbox and they wouldn't re-offend but to simply suggest that harsher jails is the answer to society's woes fails to consider the causes of those woes and is basically reactionary thinking without any consideration for real life facts.

 

[StriderX]

Bankers leave the UK, goodbye to their tax money this year and every year from now on? You dont have to like someone to recognise them as a resource, and thats what they are, driving them out of the UK with high tax achieves nothing.

Never said anything against imprisoning violent offenders, but what is the point of putting violent people all together in hellish conditions and then complain when they come out and are worse than they were before? send a monster to hell and expect him to become a bigger monster not to scare him! And the reason jails are overcrowded at the mo is all this riot business and blaming that on cushy jails is a bit of a stretch. At the end of the day american jails are generally much worse conditions than UK ones and yet their criminals re-offend far more often....now im not suggesting give those same convicts an xbox and they wouldn't re-offend but to simply suggest that harsher jails is the answer to society's woes fails to consider the causes of those woes and is basically reactionary thinking without any consideration for real life facts.

Wow you actually eat that PR nonsense up?

Lol ok, whatever...

 

[Jasonst888]

PR? no mate I just actually look into the subject a bit before posting here. I dont like prisoners any more than you and the things i suggest arent for them but for us, if the re-offend they cost money, if they kick off in jail they cost money and potentially hurt someone (guards). Essentially why have a prison system if all its gonna do is train prisoners to be better criminals at our expense? prisons have gotten progressively better and crime rates have gotten progressively lower, a link...maybe/ maybe not but either way worth considering!?

I agree with your points on a better society but thats a huge social aspect and if we are honest a dream....its never gonna happen, not because it couldnt but because there is no profit in it for those with the money. Welcome to Capitalism!

 

[DBT85]

People talk about the bankers leaving if they got taxed heavily, yet only the other day Warren Buffet was talking about how way back when top earners in the states were being taxed at 90% they were still doing business and making money and didn't run off elsewhere. I honestly don't think its as clear cut as "if you tax them high they'll leave". Not that I'm suggesting that is the answer.

As regards the prison situation, I'd like to see some stats as to how many of those 80k+ are in for either: Murder, Attempted Murder, sex crimes or theft and how many of the total them are habitual criminals.

 

[Pawnless Endgame]

I say we heavily fine the lesser offenders. Make it mandatory to have your bank details attached to your NI number so that they can't evade or make late payments etc. If they don't have the money, then make them do community service but tag them too so that they don't do a runner etc.

 

[Jasonst888]

I say we heavily fine the lesser offenders. Make it mandatory to have your bank details attached to your NI number so that they can't evade or make late payments etc. If they don't have the money, then make them do community service but tag them too so that they don't do a runner etc.

Good plan! cost a bit to setup...and by a bit i mean a lot....but in the end would probably save a lot of money! Plus I like this idea of making community service people very noticeable (orange clothes, etc), not sure if it really helps but justice must be seen to be done.

 

[Defcon5]

I say we heavily fine the lesser offenders.

Most will only be on the dole anyway, and will simply steal more to make up the shortfall

 

[Angst]

Reclaim australia, problem sorted.

 

[StonedPenguin]

Legalise Cannabis, problem sorted.

Fixed that for you fella.

 

[yoyo50]

Gameshow, fight till death winner gets out, twist, he doesn't

Sorted.

 

[Gackt]

how about we stop giving the prisoners spence, when i used to work at a high street electrical store we had a local prison come in once a month to pick up items for the prisoners.

on average it was £1500 a month, funny i thought being in prison was ment to be a punishment not a payed holiday camp.

Typical ignorant response from a Daily Mail/Sun reader.

 

[Edrof]

I think we should mobilise the entire prison population to FIND ME A DAMNED TOUCHPAD!

 

[Judgeneo]

People talk about the bankers leaving if they got taxed heavily, yet only the other day Warren Buffet was talking about how way back when top earners in the states were being taxed at 90% they were still doing business and making money and didn't run off elsewhere. I honestly don't think its as clear cut as "if you tax them high they'll leave". Not that I'm suggesting that is the answer.

High tax encourages evasion, if the 80% + tax rates worked long term, they would still be in effect now.

Warren Buffet can hardly be classed as a "banker" in usual sense anyway.

 

[stickman1]

Why don't prisons pay for themselves? There's a massive amount of manpower inside them doing **** all! Make the scumbags work ten hours shifts.

Some Prison's are private and do pay for themself!! and the inmates do work

What would you have the prisoners doing in terms of work? Bearing in mind that it may well cost more to set up the manufacturing facilities and/or have the necessary level of supervision for them doing the work than it would ever return.


What if the entertainment/luxuries actually cost less overall than the supervision necessary if you don't have some form of easily occupying the prisoners? In essence a fair amount of the reason behind giving prisoners access to PS3s (or Xbox 360s - whichever is the lags favourite is unimportant) is that it prevents trouble because they've got something to while away the time, if you don't want to offer that then fair enough but it'll probably cost more.

The inmates do work 5 days a week for £4 a day which they save and then use to buy what ever they want to keep themselfs occupied.

 

[Tefal]

Reclaim australia, problem sorted.

**** reclaiming it then we'd have to pay for it just ship em out there in a container ship at night

 

[MissileMoose]

World economy fixed - Print more money.

 

[peterattheboro]

Bring back capital punishment and legalise some of the softer drugs and tax it heavily. Job done

 

[Superficial]

We abolished penal labour in 1948: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penal_Labour#England_and_Wales

I believe this was a mistake. However, whilst I don't know for sure, I belive the EU has a large say in how we treat prisoners since they had issues with us denying them the vote etc.

What would you have the prisoners doing in terms of work? Bearing in mind that it may well cost more to set up the manufacturing facilities and/or have the necessary level of supervision for them doing the work than it would ever return.

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=8289

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2000/may2000/pris-m08.shtml

Prison labour works...no pun intended.

Prisoners have been making products and performing services for private companies in the USA for donkeys years. The supervision is carried out by the private company themselves along with the supply of any equipment if requried.

The problem is that, like in America, if you're not careful you could put regular businesses out of action because of the slave labour. they'd have to be put to work performing services that we need that companies do not provide so it's not a danger to jobs...my vote goes to community housing / neighbourhood cleaning (graffti etc).

Worst case scenario you offset some of the costs / best case you turn a profit but, in my opinion, the biggest impact would be in the psyche of the British public whom currently see the prisons system as a layabouts dream and not a deterrent.