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Build more prisons

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Smile through tears

Member since
September 2021

2595 posts

Posted Thu December 12, 2024 6:24amReport post

When will they realise building more prisons is not the answer and look at the reasons why the ones we have are heaving?

The judicial service, in my opinion, is just not working, fact.... For a start I think many people (like my son) should not be in prison in the first place. By saying this I'm not making light of his crime in any way shape or form, yes he definately needed a nudge in the right direction.

i think money needs ploughing into the establishments we have, plus not just lock people up, leave them to rot - provide support and more education to get them back on track from day one .... my son has waited nearly four years inside before they start to address his behaviour! It should be ongoing, as I said - from the start.

The money should also be spent on modernising the prisons we do have, which I'm sure would create more space in the long run. Plus it would make a more humane life for prisoners, remember they are people and deserve dignity.

Yes prisons are definitely needed of course. But it just annoys me so much the obvious is not being faced up to. I think until you have a prison circumstance in your life, you just carnt 'see it'.........

soz for the rant, what do you guys think?

Edited Thu December 12, 2024 6:42am

Eye of storm

Member since
May 2024

71 posts

Posted Thu December 12, 2024 6:51amReport post

Couldn't agree more, it makes me twitch everytime I hear them talking about more prisons on the news! It's not the answer and it never will be ....rehabilitation, teaching skills, compassion, therapy, giving a sense of purpose I'm sure would work for a vast majority.

The CJS needs to completely reform and take mental health much more seriously and actually get in the 21st century! If someone has demonstrated remorse and a willingness to change then they could be sent to community rehab programmes/like a community order. Or at least taken in to account as part of a CPS charging decision - why waste tax payers money if the individual has already started rehabilitation and shown significant progress. I understand there must be punishment but maybe apply fines instead (that can then be fed back in to the crumbling system) along with any other appropriate restrictions.



I think we need to get the idea out of our heads that prison is the ultimate punishment - because we all knows there's a far greater one that lasts a lifetime and it's called a label.



xxx

Bettyboo65

Member since
June 2022

352 posts

Posted Thu December 12, 2024 8:02pmReport post

I agree with both of you ladies, building more prisons to incarcerate more people is archaic, also the ones who commit these types of crimes are labelled with a sentence for life so going forward what hope do they have even if they do everything in their power to change.



The whole system needs overhauling, sentence lengths have changed dramatically in the last few years, keeping people in prison longer and they then wonder why prisons are bursting at the seams xx

Edited Thu December 12, 2024 8:03pm

LosingIt

Member since
September 2024

139 posts

Posted Thu December 12, 2024 8:14pmReport post

Agreed. We have the highest number of incarcerated people per head of the population in Western Europe and the highest reoffending rate. You'd think the governments would have put two and two together sooner rather than throwing good money after bad in building more and more prisons. But our media is very "American" in its approach to law and order when it should be more Scandinavian.

Bettyboo65

Member since
June 2022

352 posts

Posted Thu December 12, 2024 8:33pmReport post

Yes, our media I think are actually disgusting people, they wreck lives, tear families apart and paint monsters for Joe public to hate and despise. Rehabilitation for our people is not an option if the media report on them.

EBP

Member since
September 2021

211 posts

Posted Fri December 13, 2024 1:40amReport post

I agree with all of the above. The system seems to be set up to contain,dehumanise & then 'spit them out' without any further insight into their crimes.
How are they stopping other men going down the same path when pornography is seen as a perfectly acceptable stress reliever. Who is teaching young boys how to manage their curiosity & physical changes ?

Because it is such a taboo subject,no one will debate in a calm academic way.

It all tears apart families & leads to mistrust & severe stress.

I worry about my son in prison,then worry about when he comes out!
Thank God for this forum.

Smile through tears

Member since
September 2021

2595 posts

Posted Fri December 13, 2024 5:29amReport post

I strongly agree with Eye of storm she described 'the label' as being the ultimate punishment our loved ones will/are facing is the dreaded 'label'.

I also think it applies to other crimes too, I see some sentences dished out and it makes my toes curl - there must less expensive and different avenues not just custodial, once again I refer to Eye of storm's post.

I think no politician is brave enough to take the bull by the horns and question our outdated, dysfunctional system. It makes for an easier life to whip up distaste and hatred (and fear) to the masses with build more prisons and 'lock um up' mentality, rather than face the uncomfortable true root of the problem.

Edited Fri December 13, 2024 5:44am

LosingIt

Member since
September 2024

139 posts

Posted Fri December 13, 2024 6:08pmReport post

In fairness, I think the sentencing review under David Gauke was intended to bring about just these kinds of reform. Not that I would usually expect that from a Tory but he seems very big on community rehabilitation. The only issue is those high profile cases of tv personalities we have seen in the news lately which will definitely skew the government's "academic" approach in favour of pandering to the Daily Mail and the Sun.

Edited Fri December 13, 2024 6:10pm