Unlike most on here I have worked inside a prison education department.What nalit says is true. At least 30% of prison inmates are suffering from mental health problems like the lad nalit mentioned, they should not be in jail at all. Many are virtually illiterate and unemployable which is a major factor in why they offended.
I know several prison officers , they feel very let down by people who have views like those expressed on here , that all prisoners are ' worthless scum' . That those who's job it is to look after them are very little better than the 'scum' they should lock up and forget.
The prison service suffers from very low moral of it's staff, who are forced to work long hours with compulsory overtime. Long booked leave is cancelled at a few hours notice. I know officers who have lost money on booked holidays and flights because their leave was cancelled at the last minute.
A summer week end of compulsory overtime can replaced by a mid week day off in November for example. Their contract of service does not allow them to refuse the extra work and they are forbidden by law to strike. The service is losing staff faster than they can be replaced and the work load of those who remain gets harder by the day.