Early Release Scheme

Prisons are running at 98% capacity which is a dangerous place to be.

Lack of available space in prison adversely impacts on the ability of the Police/CPS to admit those arrested under police investigation for serious crimes (e.g alleged rapists, alleged murderers, alleged manslaughter offenders, alleged terrorism offenders etc) on remand. That leads to such suspected offenders more often being released back into the community on bail rather than go to prison on remand.

So the potential increase of risk to the public increases as a result.

It could be argued the risk is greater in those circumstances than early release of convicted offenders coming out under tag and supervision.

The optics look better but the public risk actually could be much greater....

I just think our entire prison system is all skewed and flawed and also we do have space in both a new prison and some wings just refurbished in older prisons.

But guess what? No staff!

So, my radical solution is as so;

Only violent and sexual offences and extreme repeat lesser crimes to get prison sentences.

Everyone else gets tagged and suspended sentences and curfews and has to do months and months of unpaid work, passports and driving licences confiscated for duration of sentences.

Start big recruitment drives for prisoner officers and other personnel to work in prisons and to monitor those on suspended sentences.

Great training and good salaries for those recruited.

Invest heavily in residential rehabs for both drink and drug addicts. Invest heavily in mental health services and re-open some residential mental health homes.

Make rehabilitation sessions mandatory for all people serving any kind of sentence.

For those in prison, provide good clean accommodation with plenty of work and learning and exercise facilities, as well as libraries

No early release. Restrict all privileges until earned. Weekly drug tests, weekly cell searches, all n different days and different times. Swap staff into different wings and duties regularly.

In a perfect world no one should be released early but releasing someone who has been given say 10 years at 7 makes a mockery of the sentence given if they know they will be out in 7 why not just sentence them to 7. Makes no sense to me.

Cossy, that sounds like a long-term plan! Suggest it to your MP? A lot of money needs to be poured in to the prison, justice and police system.

eazybee

The problem was handed over to Alex Norris, the Justice Secretary, to find a solution , which he has done. As was prophesied at the time, if he failed it would be the end of his post; if he succeeded, Burnham would take all the credit, as is happening today.
Just in time for his triumphant entry to a new term in Parliament.
So predictable.
And now, the Defence Budget.

Burnham is not taking all the credit. He talks "we" as in "we, the government". And frankly if people dont get that he is not individually doing everything as opposed to leading a team of ministers wbo have a job to do alongside him then 🙄

Just read another thread under N&P entitled No wonder our prisons are full. I wonder how many other prisoners there are who stole a phone and have remained inside for 14 years.

I dont suppose that case Patsy is quite as straightforward as it appears