Seeing Criminals doing their punishment

[ruby27]

A report commissioned by the Gov shows that despite falling crime and record police numbers, public concern about criminal behaviour has risen. Ordinary people do not believe that their voice is heard or that offenders face adequate consequences for committing crime .

Amongst many proposals what has been getting coverage is that offenders sentenced to community punishment may be put to work wearing high-visibility bibs that will identify them as criminals under proposals intended to restore confidence in the justice system.

Does your confidence in the system need restoring and if so will this work?

[:Ace:]

But wouldn't that be against the poor criminals human rights?!?!??

I can't believe that it's even being proposed, it would cause hurt feelings to the convicts and damage their civil liberties.

We'd be much better off letting them go because our prisons are too full, it would cause further over crowding!

[solitude]

The first time I drove through Alabama, I had barely crossed the state line before I saw my first chain gang - All in neon orange jumpsuits working on the side the road in intense heat, with guards on horseback cradling rifles. The thought that you didn't want to get in trouble was definitely in the forefront of your mind.

[123everton]

Slightly off thread but I was listening to reports about youth crime (don't get me started) and they said that we were locking more young offenders up even though youth crime was coming down.
Am I out of step with the world here, or does that signify that the policy is working?

[Ethel]

The prisoners out working (tidying up the verges) in my area wear bibs already.

[jake-the-peg]

Which particular human right is it you think might be infringed :Ace:?

Is it an absolute human right?

Do you know what you're talking about or are you just parroting out of the tabloids?

[topogigo]

I think that prisons should lock away the criminals without parading them in public. There, in the prison community, are people that are innocent, i know i was one of them. i was locked away for three weeks until i managed to see my solicitor who then got me released within a day, i was duly compensated eventually. I have never had even a point on my license and i don't mix socially with criminals, i work with them, but there i was. Would you like to have seen me dressed like a slave working in the community, besides the fact that all my life i have worked and paid taxes, how much do i then owe to society compared to another prisoner that has been on the dole all his life. There just isn't enough ways to generalise about people to do anything but lock 'em up. It is ok coming up with these suggestions when you are on the out.

[scorpious321]

stuff the humans rights if its proven you have done the crime then do the time,
If I had my way I would bring back chain gangs and send them all to the sand and ballast pits to do there time and watch them load lorries by a shovel until they have finished there sentence.

[ruby27]

My own view is that I don't need visible evidence to believe or not believe whether there is a active justice system. I happen to think the one we have is probably about as good as any human endeavour is likely to be.

As for making offenders who are doing some kind of sentence, I find this rather off putting and disturbing. (Ideas of public stocks and hangings - urgh).

I can not think of any value it brings to me the observer, and only think humiliation and shame is the likely impact on the criminal.

Whilst that may feed a rather basic desire for vengeance on the part of the public, it doesn't seem conducive to lowering re offending rates.

[wildwood]

I believe the first step to setting up a deterring effect for most crims is to abolish the ridiculous parole system. If someone gets 5 years they do 5 years. If they misbehave they get more. Some just can not be rehabilitated and deserve to spend their life in prison.
A standard mandatory minimum sentence system for some crimes may also help somewhat.

[LAW_DROP-OUT]

it would be another logistical task , for "community service supervisors " to bring "vests " for oofenders to wear ,,,,,, each and every time as neccesary ..... - i knew of a guy who was doing Comm service , for drink driving , ,...someone who was on comm service , gave him info on how to get a false , store card with asda. he then got caught doing the asda , rick , and was never seen again , on , hte comm service ....