Prison should not be regarded as a punishment (Letters, 2 June). It is place of restraint where those who are incorrigibly violent – such as terrorists and incurable psychopaths – must be kept.
Punishment is a consequence of this restraint, but it should not be its aim. Punishment can be achieved by much more effective means, eg ill-gotten gains can be sequestered and subsequent earnings mulcted. The aim must be restitution, reform and rehabilitation, not one-size-fits-all punishment.
Magistrates, who can only award useless short sentences, should have this power removed completely. Crown court judges should have their sentencing audited, and where it has proved ineffective they should be held to account. If all drugs were legally regulated imprisonment would reduce by about 65%.
Imprisonment evolved after the Napoleonic wars ended and the new PoW prisons like Dartmoor emptied. Before this, circuit judges went on circuit to empty jails, not fill them. We have many other effective, humane options that the probation service could operate using funds wasted on imprisonment. Two probation officers cost less than one imprisoned adult or four children. The criminal justice system has been told this for years by our most senior judges, such as Lord Bingham, and yet it does nothing. Why?
Mick Humphreys
Taunton, Somerset
• Everyone from the chief inspector of prisons to prisoners themselves is now expressing concerns about the impact that new psychoactive substances are having on prisoners, prison officers and the efficacy of the prison system (Prisoners reveal regular ‘spice’ habit has tripled, 1 June). Current approaches to addressing their use are not working, and the situation is getting worse.
HMP Forest Bank, however, is taking a fresh approach. Using the principles of restorative justice, it is encouraging those prisoners who are using spice and other so-called “legal highs” to face up to the impact of their behaviour on their fellow prisoners and on prison staff.
While it is early days, there are encouraging signs that this has an impact, as well as giving staff an outlet to explain the daily challenges they’re facing. As part of a strategy that also includes security and prevention, as well as mentoring and support, this sort of innovative work is exactly what is required to deal with a growing problem.
Jon Collins
Chief executive, Restorative Justice Council
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