Prisons in the UKPrisons in the UK
The key issuesThe key issues
IntroductionIntroduction
Many signs point to a current crisis in the UK criminal justice system.Many signs point to a current crisis in the UK criminal justice system.
Prison numbers and overcrowding are at an all-time high, courts arePrison numbers and overcrowding are at an all-time high, courts are
over-subscribed, the police over-stretched, and the public unconfident in over-subscribed, the police over-stretched, and the public unconfident in
either the efficacy or justice of the penal system. either the efficacy or justice of the penal system.
Re-offending rates remain high, with 2/3rds of prisoners re-offending Re-offending rates remain high, with 2/3rds of prisoners re-offending
within two years of release, a figure that goes up to 74.8% for men aged within two years of release, a figure that goes up to 74.8% for men aged
between 18–21. (England and Wales 2007)between 18–21. (England and Wales 2007)
Though the amount of crime reported to the British Crime Survey has Though the amount of crime reported to the British Crime Survey has
declined by 42% since 1995, few academic commentators attribute much declined by 42% since 1995, few academic commentators attribute much
of this reduction to a greater use of imprisonment. In any case, most of this reduction to a greater use of imprisonment. In any case, most
people still believe that crime is rising and fear of crime is relatively high, people still believe that crime is rising and fear of crime is relatively high,
suggesting that we need to look beyond the facts to understand public suggesting that we need to look beyond the facts to understand public
opinion about crime and punishment.opinion about crime and punishment.
Source: Source: The Principles and Limits of the Penal System, Howard League for Penal , Howard League for Penal
Reform 2007 (England and Wales)Reform 2007 (England and Wales)
Why prison?Why prison?
Professor Ian Loader
Centre for Criminology, University of Oxford
“There is a rich, diverse body of writing and debate about the
principles that should underpin the penal system in a
liberal democracy. This writing is focused on how to justify
punishment, … understood as the organized infliction of
pain by the state upon an individual following a conviction
for criminal wrongdoing”.
The debate typically revolves around the competing claims of:
retribution/desert
individual general deterrence
incapacitation, rehabilitation and repair
In other wordsIn other words
PunishmentPunishment
Retribution – Justice or Revenge?Retribution – Justice or Revenge?
Deterrence Deterrence
Rehabilitation/ Re-educationRehabilitation/ Re-education
Public safetyPublic safety
Personal safety if criminalPersonal safety if criminal
But in which order?But in which order?
Key questions raisedKey questions raised
Regarding the current use of imprisonment in Scotland and
England and Wales
2.Why has the prison population gone up while crime has
come down?
3.To what extent is the prison now being used increasingly
as a method of dealing with the marginalised people in
our society, fulfilling Charles Murray’s vision of “the
custodial state”
4.What is the purpose of prison?
Do we need to take account of the views of people like Oklahoma State
Representative Lucky Lamons, a former police officer and now member of
the Oklahoma Sentencing Commission, that “We need to incarcerate the
people we’re afraid of, not that we’re mad at.”
Key questionsKey questions
Regarding public perceptions of personal safety and the
need to develop a new communications strategy:
Are there “too many people in prison”?
1. England and Wales has the highest imprisonment
rate in Western Europe.
Faced with the information that the prison population in England and
Wales is now over 80,000, the ordinary person in the street is likely to
ask whether that is a high figure or a low figure and may well take the
view that if that is what it takes to make society safer, then so be it.
2. In 2008-09, the average daily prison population in Scotland was 7,835.
This represents an increase of six per cent over the previous year, 31 per
cent over the past ten years, and continues the upward trend
observed since 2000-01.
Key questionsKey questions
Regarding public perceptions of personal safety and the need to develop a
new communications strategy:
Is prison too costly?
The £2.3 billion spent on imprisonment in England and Wales
each year is a small figure in comparison to money spent on the
health service or on education and also on the police. The public
may well take the view that this is money well spent.
Similarly, the public is liable to be unimpressed by the
information that it costs in the region of £35,000 a year to keep a
person in prison.
The response might be either to say that is a small price to pay
for public safety or else that prisons should be made more
austere and less costly.
Key questionsKey questions
Regarding public perceptions of personal safety and the need to develop a
new communications strategy:
Lengths of sentences?
Overall the prison service does well in protecting the public from
those who have been convicted of serious crimes, although there
may be a need to consider the lengths of sentences that are now
being imposed. This will include consideration of such matters as
the recently introduced Indeterminate Public Protection
sentences.
Links: IPP sentences
6.http://www.hmprisonservice.gov.uk/adviceandsupport/prison_life/lifesentencedprisoners/
7.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4536358.stm
8.http://www.prisonersadvice.org.uk/documents/MicrosoftWord-IPP2008.pdf
Key issuesKey issues
Can the debate needs to be restructured along the
following lines?
Most crime is local and its effects are experienced
locally. It may, therefore, be that the solution to it will
also be found locally.
Most of the spending at the “back end” of the penal
system, principally on prisons and probation, is
controlled and distributed nationally.
Key IssuesKey Issues
The criminal justice system is not well
equipped to deal with matters which should
primarily be the responsibility of other
agencies. These include:
mental illness,
personal drug and alcohol abuse
inappropriate individual behaviour, especially by
young people.
Key IssuesKey Issues
Can Restorative Justice or alternative methods
provide solutions to the penal crisis?
Underused and over-researched!Underused and over-researched!
How do other countries deal with the “prison How do other countries deal with the “prison
problem” if indeed they have one?problem” if indeed they have one?
Summary of key issuesSummary of key issues
1.1.The role of penal systems in UK and beyondThe role of penal systems in UK and beyond
2.2.The Purposes of incarcerationThe Purposes of incarceration
3.3.The Aims of the UK Prison Services The Aims of the UK Prison Services
4.4.The policies of the main political parties with regards to prisons The policies of the main political parties with regards to prisons
(Scotland and the UK)(Scotland and the UK)
5.5.The debate over private prisonsThe debate over private prisons
6.6.Young people in prisonYoung people in prison
7.7.Women in PrisonWomen in Prison
8.8.The challenge of drugs and alcohol abuseThe challenge of drugs and alcohol abuse
9.9.The challenge of mental health issues for prisonersThe challenge of mental health issues for prisoners
10.10.Racial/ Ethnic Minorities in PrisonRacial/ Ethnic Minorities in Prison
11.11.The socio-economic divide and prison in the UKThe socio-economic divide and prison in the UK
Summary of TasksSummary of Tasks
Week 1: TutorialWeek 1: Tutorial
Prisons in the UK are too soft on criminalsPrisons in the UK are too soft on criminals
DiscussDiscuss
5.5.The role of penal systems in UK and beyondThe role of penal systems in UK and beyond
6.6.The Purposes of incarcerationThe Purposes of incarceration
7.7.The Aims of the UK Prison Services The Aims of the UK Prison Services
Caragh and DanielleCaragh and Danielle
Death penalty on trial: Death penalty on trial:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/video/2010/may/13/death-penalty-trial-law-videohttp://www.guardian.co.uk/law/video/2010/may/13/death-penalty-trial-law-video
Week 2: TutorialWeek 2: Tutorial
3.3.Is Prison working?Is Prison working?
4.4.The policies of the main political parties with The policies of the main political parties with
regards to prisons (Scotland and the UK)regards to prisons (Scotland and the UK)
5.5.The debate over private prisonsThe debate over private prisons
MARTAMARTA
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/sep/17/restorative-justice-cuts-crimehttp://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/sep/17/restorative-justice-cuts-crime
Week 3: TutorialWeek 3: Tutorial
Is Incarceration the best option for young Is Incarceration the best option for young
offenders (under 21s)?offenders (under 21s)?
Assess the effectiveness of current provision in Assess the effectiveness of current provision in
the UK and contrast with other countriesthe UK and contrast with other countries
LOUISLOUIS
Young Offender: Young Offender: http://www.bbc.co.uk/filmnetwork/films/p004pr1whttp://www.bbc.co.uk/filmnetwork/films/p004pr1w
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-10948635http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-10948635
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10547220http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10547220
Week 4: TutorialWeek 4: Tutorial
To what extent is incarceration meeting its aims To what extent is incarceration meeting its aims
with respect to women in Prison in the UK?with respect to women in Prison in the UK?
HANNAHHANNAH
Week 5: TutorialWeek 5: Tutorial
To what extent are Prisons in the UK meeting:To what extent are Prisons in the UK meeting:
3.3.The challenge of drugs and alcohol abuseThe challenge of drugs and alcohol abuse
4.4.The challenge of mental health issues for The challenge of mental health issues for
prisonersprisoners
STEFAN/CARAGHSTEFAN/CARAGH
Week 6: TutorialWeek 6: Tutorial
To what extent is the prison now being used increasingly as a
method of dealing with the marginalised people in our
society, fulfilling Charles Murray’s vision of “the
custodial state”
Racial/ Ethnic/ Religious Minorities in PrisonRacial/ Ethnic/ Religious Minorities in Prison
The socio-economically marginalised and prisonThe socio-economically marginalised and prison
Kay/ Nicoletta/FarahKay/ Nicoletta/Farah
http://http://www.indiana.edu/~intell/bellcurve.shtmlwww.indiana.edu/~intell/bellcurve.shtml
http://www.thefreemanonline.org/departments/book-review-the-bell-curve-intelligence-and-class-structure-in-american-life-by-richard-j-herrnstein-and-charles-murray/http://www.thefreemanonline.org/departments/book-review-the-bell-curve-intelligence-and-class-structure-in-american-life-by-richard-j-herrnstein-and-charles-murray/
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