Why can't we have the jails run like this?

[R1Geezer]

http://www.cnn.com/US/9907/27/tough.sheriff/

Joe Arpaio for home secretary!

[adamhornsby]

Or like the prison on Porridge.
I think this government is too dam soft, and as useful as a chocolate teapot, especially Gordon Brown

[BillySugger]

Is there any evidence that this approach works? I.e. the prisoners being released not offending again ,very much doubt it . Prison is supposed to be about rehabilitation as well as punishment . If the prisoners are treated like they are in this article do you really think they're going to come out as better people & maybe learn something . Highly unlikely I would think

[R1Geezer]

I don't give a to55 about rehab, they are there for punishment. They should come out with a determination to not go back.

[youngmafbog]

Its something that we can only dream of. The bleeding hearts liberals and their 'Human rights' Givnot lead by Cherie 'where can I get my latest public buck' Blair are trashing this country.

The current system certainly dont work so you might as well make it harsh. Make it unpleasant enough and some will certainly think twice and for those that dont well, they are in for a grim life.

[WaldoMcFroog]

It's rather tragic that all you hang-em-high people are cowed into submission by a bunch of people who you yourselves describe as yoghurt-knitters and similar.

What kind of pussy-whipped wimps are you if a minority of Guardian readers suppress your undoubtedly correct and well thought out views by saying things like 'violence doesn't solve anything' and 'stop - think of the rainforest'?

Wimps, wimps, wimps, wimps, wimps. You bunch of bed wetters. Can't even defeat a few vegetarians.

How pathetic.

[jake-the-peg]

Hope he never catches you speeding Geezer!

In April, a jury awarded $1.5 million to an inmate denied medical treatment for a perforated ulcer. Tim Griffin, arrested for driving with a suspended license, required several surgeries for the perforated ulcer

[Lakitu]

I don't find that story one bit amusing. I don't want to see them go to jail and be treated like they're on a holiday camp, but the way that Sherrif treats them is inhumane un unnecessary.

[R1Geezer]

WTF are you on about Waldo? I think most would agree with toughening up the penal system. Trouble is the people that make up parliament are generally opposed to the public on this sort of thing. Not sure why we are bed wetting wimps, should we storm parliament Wolfie Smith style then? what are you advocating?

[Quinlad]

R1Geezer, why do you not care about rehabilitation?

A rehabilitated convict is one that doesn't return to a life of crime. Do you not see that as a good thing? Or are you happy to see someone come out of prison and then commit more crime?

Would you rather an inmate was treated harshly only to come out and break into your Granny's house? Or was taught the error of the ways, rehabilitated and then held down a job and paid taxes?

I'm genuinely interested.

[R1Geezer]

What I meant was, I don't give a t055 about "rehab" in the form currently practised.

Rehab is good if it can be acheived, however it is extremely rare, most criminals will "play along" to get whatever reward is offerred and then go on to re offend because Jail is not a deterent to them and they know they have to commit a lot of crime to actually end up in jail anyway.

if a burglar knew he was going to serve a minium of 5 years in a proper jail minumum, he'd think twice about burgling my Granny, now That's Rehab!

I agree it's good if they can be turned into hard working contributors but I'm afraid this is almost impossible as the mind set is wrong to start with. There are cases yes, but really it's futile to credit these people with thoughts and feelings like your own.

[RevFunk]

Personally I thought that prison was meant to be a punishemnt and/or deterent.

If prisons forced people to do hard labour, no tv or gym etc etc I think it would have an effect/.

[Quinlad]

Some decent theories there, geezer, but no research to back them up. Which is where these debates often fall down.

"I don't give a t055 about "rehab" in the form currently practised."

Clearly, it's not working well enough. But that's because it's not readily available to enough prisoners, not because the concept is flawed. That much is made clear by the Prison Service itself in in a parliamentary report: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200 102/cmselect/cmpubacc/619/61903.htm#a1

"Rehab is good if it can be acheived, however it is extremely rare"

Is it? Anything to back that up? The research I've linked to suggests that drugs treatment programme, basic literacy and numeracy programmes and offending behaviour programmes (ie, rehabilitation) are all highly likely to reduce reoffending.

"most criminals will "play along" to get whatever reward is offered"

Does that matter if they emerge with qualifications and no drug habit? Therefore better equipped to get a job and stay clean.

"if a burglar knew he was going to serve a minium of 5 years in a proper jail minumum, he'd think twice about burgling my Granny"<i/>

Any evidence whatsoever to support that? Did you just pluck that figure out of the air?

"I agree it's good if they can be turned into hard working contributors but I'm afraid this is almost impossible as the mind set is wrong to start with." <i/>

Not according to alnost every piece of research into the subject.

"it's futile to credit these people with thoughts and feelings like your own."<i/>

Like you have here you mean? "if a burglar knew he was going to serve a minium of 5 years in a prope

[Hotlardlife]

There is no doubt prison in this country is considered a joke, even by those in it. The hand wringing liberal have had their day and it is proved not to work - now it is the turn of the alternative.
A prison should be an awful place no one wants to be in. Does anyone really disagree with that?

So how a bout we introduce minumum term jail sentences only, do away with maximum cos min will be max. Then in the last 20% of the jail term they are moved to a 'rehab' unit. There best of both worlds.

At the minute the only useful thing taught in prison(to a criminal) is further education on how to commit crime.

Oh and of course 3 strikes and you dont come out = full stop,

Oh and string up the murderers,

Oh and deport all illegals. Black/White/Purple whatever to free up more Jail space.

[pingping]

i think you'll find the answer isn't so much rehab while in prison, but providing support and help once they leave. if someone is released, but has no home/family/job to return to, then the only option available seems to be re-offend to survive. how many employers do you think would employ someone with a criminal record over and above someone without one? so even those who may want to go straight might not have much choice/chance to.

[jake-the-peg]

I think that's pretty acute PingPing

You know HotlardLife there are a few people on thisboard who've done time.

I've yet to hear any one of them say it was a joke.

Do you have any personal direct experience or are you forming your opinion from what journalists are telling you?

And please don't try to pass off being banged up for 23 hours a day and having your food (83p a meal) passed through a slit as "breakfast in bed"