Re-offending rates show that short prison sentences do not work (Shetland Liberal Democrats)

Shetland Liberal Democrats <info@libdems.org.uk>

Re-offending rates show that short prison sentences do not work

August 31, 2010 5:28 PM
Originally published by Scottish Liberal Democrats

Commenting on the latest re-offending rates published by the Scottish Government, Liberal Democrat Justice spokesman Robert Brown said:

"These statistics show yet again that short prison sentences do not work.

"Re-offending rates among those sent to jail for short sentences of only a few months are incredibly high. It is frequently much more effective to hand out community service orders to these offenders. Re-offending rates are much lower and they are much less expensive for the public purse. Prison is clearly necessary to protect the public in more serious cases - and the success with longer-term prisoners is also much greater.

"Prison officers, police chiefs and victim support organisations support our view, based on clear evidence, that short prison sentences simply do not work

"It is quite astonishing that the Labour Party still go on demanding jail for everyone, despite all the evidence that jails are often "colleges for criminals". A much better way to stop people re-offending is to make them work in the community they harmed."