Tough On The Causes of Crime

StephenMilne Fri Jan 26, 2007 at 02:49:05 PM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

SmartJustice are a campaign group seeking to bring a bit of reason to the kind of hysterical headlines we can see today on the 'crime crisis'.

Lucie Russell of SmartJustice speaks out on whether the prisons crisis is caused by or is a cause of rising crime.




We all awoke this morning to the news (yesterday) that John Reid had last seen sense and written to Judges and magistrates to tell them that they should stop jailing non violent offenders because it's a waste of taxpayers money. Finally, we all thought, the government have acknowledged that stuffing prisons full of drug addicts and the mentally ill, as well as vulnerable women and children just reduces the chances of rehabilitating the serious offenders who really need to be there. But alas no, by lunchtime Blair and Reid were explaining that this was a stopgap measure until they begin the building programme for 8,000 more prison places in March. Meanwhile they are going to use police cells, army barracks, prison ships and condemned wings of existing prisons. Thus, our hopes that the tipping point had been reached, and the long term strategy to put effectiveness before punitiveness and the beginnings of a long term strategy to reduce overcrowding were dashed.

If you were crying out for a more radical, even liberal approach then surely we could point to the Lib Dems new manifesto on crime? Boldly entitled `We Can Cut Crime', Sir Ming  said the key to tackling crime was to get "smarter" not "tougher". Well - that's definitely something we at SmartJustice would agree with.They highlighted the fact that prisoners who do not take part in education or training are three times more likely to go back to crime - but two-thirds of offenders receive no training at all. Almost half of all prisoners have a reading ability below that of an 11 year old - obviously this is not going help in finding work on release, one of the key indicators to prevent reoffending.And the Lib Dems want to make education and training compulsory, which is laudable - but they cannot do this unless they tackle chronic overcrowding, and nowhere is this mentioned. The problem is the `churn' - when prisoners have to be moved about, to make way for other prisoners. Often education and training courses have to be stopped half way though, as a prisoner finds himself on a prison van to yet another jail cell. But how do you stop prisons being overcrowded? The answer is to take out those who have been locked up for non-violent offences e.g. shoplifting, car theft (around 7/10 young people and 8/10 women)-- and make them undertake compulsory work in the community to payback for the damage they have caused. Far better than sit around a cell all day doing nothing.

It would be a tragedy if the main priority for political parties was to `out-tough' each other on crime as we've seen this week, rather than being honest about effective solutions - this country needs some radical thinking on this area, and real political leadership rather than just cowering in the face of the next tabloid headline.

Lucie Russell, Director of SmartJustice







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Tough On The Causes of Crime | 8 comments (8 topical)

Re: Tough On The Causes of Crime (#1)

by Glass House on Fri Jan 26, 2007 at 05:01:46 PM GMT

SO, you come on to LabourHome, slag off the Labour Party and heap praise on the Lib Dems.

Interesting.


Re: Tough On The Causes of Crime (#2)

by HOWLERMONKEY on Fri Jan 26, 2007 at 05:14:57 PM GMT

Yep.. It's Lib dem pie in the sky!


[ Parent ]

Re: Tough On The Causes of Crime (#3)

by Sinead Hanks on Fri Jan 26, 2007 at 05:34:10 PM GMT

I understood this was a forum for debate? Are we not able to debate LibDem policy on crime and punishment, given that their policy document was released this week?


[ Parent ]

Re: Tough On The Causes of Crime (#5)

by HOWLERMONKEY on Sat Jan 27, 2007 at 07:00:01 AM GMT

Yes indeed this is a forum for debate but it is also a Blog site... It is just as important to read the sharp first reaction one-liners as well, as they will give you the real flavour of the issue. It would be easy to write a waffling 500 or 1000 word critique response to a posting.  If your read contributions on the various subjects on Labour and the other political forums, you will find long well-reasoned arguments as well as gut reaction... both are valid.


[ Parent ]

Re: Tough On The Causes of Crime (#4)

by StephenMilne on Fri Jan 26, 2007 at 05:44:09 PM GMT

To be fair I brought them onto the site and I was thinking it was of interest to debate law and order policy.

I'm quite sure there are many people in the party who either agree with her views or who are happy to hear the case.

For the record she doesn't support the Lib Dems.


Re: Tough On The Causes of Crime (#6)

by liz on Sat Jan 27, 2007 at 03:29:57 PM GMT

Any analysis of Criminal Policy will indicate that we go round in circles from liberal to tough - neither is any more effective than the other although a tough policy with more imprisonment costs more.  Whether we like it or not, the public want to see tough measures to deal with criminal behaviour and no government can operate against public opinion. Also Labour had to prove to the public that they would be tough on crime - something that they have been ridiculed for in the past.

This government has done much to reduce factors influencing crime.  Young people are now able to gain work or training, a bigger investment in addiction services, more Homeless provision etc etc.  Contrary to what Rod Morgan the retiring head of Youth Justice says, the government has put extensive resources into diverting young people from crime and many young people are benefitting from individual help with education, skills etc.  (Mr Morgans contract was not being renewed so he left in a huff).  I accept that there has been increased legislation but would argue that since Labour came to power, criminal activity has changed.  There is more movement of people, drug and people trafficking, international criminal gangs and of course terrorist activity.  Prison statistics indicate that we have more foreign nationals in our prisons than ever before as a result of the issues above.

All Home Secretaries have written to the Judiciary at a time when prison places are scarce. Many Home Secretaries have released people towards the end of their sentence to cope with prison overcrowding - we have always had the problem and always will do no matter how many more prisons we build! John Reid said yesterday that the cost of maintaining a person in prison is £100,00 overheads and £40,000 for each prisoner per year.  The judiciary and other criminal justice agencies are reeling from being held accountable by this government. (Quite rightly too).  They will use every opportunity therefore to criticise the Home Office. (Police, Probation,Youth Justice, Magistrates, Judges have come under scrutiny for not doing their job properly). I would love to have all Judges/Chief Constables etc elected and accountable - then I would permit them to issue political statements.

Seriously though, we need to remove certain crimes from the tariff which attracts a custodial sentence.  Non payment of council tax etc etc. I would prefer that we went to the American system of sentencing - more transparent, written down,  and easier understood.  Never happen - Judges would loathe to lose their sentencing powers (they alone determine this - not John Reid).

I switch off from the Lib Dems policies.  They will never govern the country and are unable to balance varying demands in many areas.  Like all those involved in the Justice system, all are vying for their part of the cake.  Of course their part tastes better too!


[ Parent ]

Re: Tough On The Causes of Crime (#7)

by Harry Perkins on Tue Jan 30, 2007 at 11:07:19 PM GMT

If we are going to talk about Lib Dem policies on crime shall we start with their plans to reduce the age at which pornography can be legally accessed?


Re: Tough On The Causes of Crime (#8)

by Harry Perkins on Tue Jan 30, 2007 at 11:08:06 PM GMT

Or voting against tougher laws on knife crime?


Tough On The Causes of Crime | 8 comments (8 topical)