(UK people) Should there be more prison sentences handed out in court?

[Kouyate42]

I was reading a blog on the Daily Mail website where the author was arguing for there to be MORE prison sentences handed out to those convicted of a crime. The author even makes a Biblical case for such punishment:
Daily Mail:

People considerably cleverer than Ken Clarke have always known this. For example, Luther divided the world into the religious and secular realms and argued that the Sermon on the Mount only applied to the spiritual one. In the physical world, the balance between faith and duty to the community imposes compromises. Thus a judge, as a servant of the public, should follow his secular obligations to sentence a criminal to prison, if such a verdict is appropriate. But, as a servant of God, he ought to mourn the criminal’s fate and pray for his soul. Justice in the secular world has to function according to the Old, not New, Testament. Turning the other cheek saves people’s souls. ‘An eye for an eye’ saves their lives and property

I’m wondering where the CAF population stands on this one. Do you think that prison is an adequate form of punishment and should there be more prison sentences?

 

[Texas_Roofer]

I was reading a blog on the Daily Mail website where the author was arguing for there to be MORE prison sentences handed out to those convicted of a crime. The author even makes a Biblical case for such punishment:

I’m wondering where the CAF population stands on this one. Do you think that prison is an adequate form of punishment and should there be more prison sentences?

Well first Luther is not a source for CAF. I tell you in the states we send too many to prison which often increases future criminal activity! This is because border line people learn the criminal life in jail. Work release, non violent imprisonment is probably a better option. The bible itself does not reference prison which creates confusion about the punishments listed in the OT

 

[Calgar]

Well as an American I must say that our prison system has been a HUGE success!..

I think more restitution (work release, fines, etc) for many crimes (theft, drugs, etc) would be more effective and less costly.

I also think execution should play a larger role in the criminal justice system. Here in America you used to be executed fairly quickly for stealing. Why can’t someone be executed for certain thefts, rape, drug trafficking, etc?

 

[Kouyate42]

Well first Luther is not a source for CAF. I tell you in the states we send too many to prison which often increases future criminal activity! This is because border line people learn the criminal life in jail. Work release, non violent imprisonment is probably a better option. The bible itself does not reference prison which creates confusion about the punishments listed in the OT

As I say, this was from a Daily Mail article which is heavily biased towards the Church of England/Anglicanism.

Well as an American I must say that our prison system has been a HUGE success!..

As far as I can tell, the US prison system fails for the simple reason that far too many people end up in jail for fairly minor crimes which in any other country would earn you a community sentence.

I think more restitution (work release, fines, etc) for many crimes (theft, drugs, etc) would be more effective and less costly.

I also think execution should play a larger role in the criminal justice system. Here in America you used to be executed fairly quickly for stealing. Why can’t someone be executed for certain thefts, rape, drug trafficking, etc?

I’ve been to Thailand where you can be executed for having what would be considered absolutely pitiful amounts of drugs (5 grams I think?) in this country, because according to Thai law, anything over this small amount is trafficking.

Over here in the UK, at various times it was more than possible to be executed for the crimes you mention, along with some other 200 or so offences at its peak and it seemed to work I think.

 

[PerfectTiming]

Make jails less cushy and sure.
The UK has taken a tragically pathetic attitude towards criminals in recent years and they are simply not being punished for their crimes. There is no incentive to not commit crime because there the penalties are a laugh.
I lived in Singapore and they have a much better attitude. Strong penalties deter crime, simple as.

 

[Kouyate42]

Make jails less cushy and sure.
The UK has taken a tragically pathetic attitude towards criminals in recent years and they are simply not being punished for their crimes. There is no incentive to not commit crime because there the penalties are a laugh.
I lived in Singapore and they have a much better attitude. Strong penalties deter crime, simple as.

I’ve been in jail and I’m inclined to agree.

 

[Calgar]

Over here in the UK, at various times it was more than possible to be executed for the crimes you mention, along with some other 200 or so offences at its peak and it seemed to work I think.

I agree.

How anyone can concience locking someone up for their ENTIRE life is beyond me.

 

[Calgar]

Make jails less cushy.

While the tough-love side of me really agrees with this, my rational side tends to disagree.

Evidence has shown the education and rehab are FAR superior to locking someone up.

 

[Kouyate42]

While the tough-love side of me really agrees with this, my rational side tends to disagree.

Evidence has shown the education and rehab are FAR superior to locking someone up.

This is true. Many people end up in jail, and return time and time again, because of some problem which can be easily remedied, such as their having no qualifications to get a job, or drug problems or some other issue. Many of the prisons with the lowest convict populations have high numbers of rehabilitative facilities and programs.