The government are stuck between a rock and hard place regarding early prison releases.

[Kaidaia]

Let me stress I’m not in agreement with prisoners not serving full/ adequate sentences

However I’m not sure what the answer is

1. build more prisons or expand the prisons already there- there would be outcry. No one wants a prison near them or the prisons getting bigger
2. review who should be sent to prison and for what in the first place- again there would be outcry

I just think there is no easy answer

Or maybe make prison what it should be, an unpleasant experience not to be repeated?
its a social experience these days, catching up with fellow criminals, meeting new ones, getting told it’s against your human rights to be bored, you must be given education, entertainment..

The government seems to find places to build tens of thousands of new houses, so the land is certainly available. They could also put 4 beds in per cell. It's prison, not a holiday camp.

Prison doesn’t help with preventing crimes being committed. Rehab is the answer. The majority of crimes are committed due to emotional dysregulation, not being able to handle their anger, taking drugs to ease grief or abuse. More therapeutic interventions are the answer.

again playing devils advocate here but can you imagine if the government announced 50 million to build a new prison near “leafy generic nice town “. There would be utter outcry and protests. It’s not the same as building houses.

even if they put four in a cell they have to be fed and watched. All costs money that the tax payer does not want to pay.

It's like public services.

If you want better public services, then you want higher taxes.
"Oh no, I didn't mean raising MY taxes, you should raise anyone else's taxes."

Politicians get slammed for not taking difficult decisions, then politicians take difficult decisions and people slam them. Pah.

We could have overcrowded British prisons like they have in a place like Madagascar, 30 people in a 3m x 3m cell with 6 beds in it. Lots of voters would love to see that, definitely.

The public also think that "release" = the end of the sentence, which is not true, either.

This is what I’m trying to say. Those mega prisons don’t work. Our prison system isn’t working so what is the answer.

Things like home arrest and community service could be an option but again are not popular.

Where? Seriously, what I know about in house-building (or road-building) is protracted multi-year consultations and delays at getting brownfield much less greenfield sites turned into housing. People protest "not here, we don't have enough school places or doctors here!" (as if ANYWHERE has spare school places or doctors).

Where is the place that new housing that has happened easily in a short period from land purchase to completion, in like 12-18 months?

I walked by an inner-town brownfield site, maybe half-hectare in size, 2 days ago, that has been derelict for 14 years; housing is FINALLY getting built there.

One of the issues to tackle is the revolving door of prisoners. It is very difficult for ex-prisoners to build a new crime-free life, so many end up back in the system.

And can you imagine if that was a prison they were trying to build. I wouldn’t want it near my home either

I'm afraid that they just don't care if they do release violent prisoners. There are women's prisons, full mostly of shoplifters, fraudsters and addicts. They could
consider releasing non violent women and converting a women's prison to house violent men.
Oddly they prefer to wring their hands and pretend that they have no other option than to release unspeakable criminals.

Well of course, it’s still tax payer funded! They won’t be expected to work or contribute to society, can’t make them do community pay back if there’s no chance of prison recall, so the option is yet again, they sit back do nothing and get benefits and housing paid for by the tax payer!

Is there any evidence that places with prisons tgat are a more unpleasant experience have less repeat offenders though. Norway is said to have the least reoffenders. I cant imagine theirs are really brutal. Although Singapore is low too and they sound harsh

Of course more prisons should be built. We have an ever expanding population, and even if crimes per capita stay the same, there will obviously be a corresponding increase in people given prison sentences. There's plenty of space on the outskirts of towns for new prisons.

Short term, they should prioritise releasing female prisoners, the majority of whom are in for theft, fraud or non-payment of fines, and create secure male units within those prisons. Not a perfect solution but far safer for the public than releasing violent men.

Dartmoor??

Murderers (even those convicted of manslaughter) and domestic abusers should not be released early to free up space. The fact that some will be, makes a mockery of them having a trial and being sentenced.

P.C Harper's killers should not be freed early just to free up space. No doubt they'll do it again. It is a disgrace that they could walk free come October.

I'm sure there are less serious criminals that can be released before them.

Again devils advocate here but who decides if a crime is less serious. Obviously violence and murder is horrific and goes without saying that they should stay in prison

But I remember a case years ago (can’t remember the exact details) a woman local to me, she worked for a medium sized local business, over the course of 20 years she stole approx 500k. The company ended up nearly bankrupted and had to lay off a load of staff. So non violent fraud and theft, her crime impacted many many people and caused a lot of hurt and hardship.

They are already building new prisons...

the UK government is currently executing its largest prison expansion program since the Victorian era, aiming to create 14,000 new prison places by 2031.

The government is already building 4 new prisons in the UK, next to existing prison sites. The target is to increase capacity by 14000 spaces by 2031 to match a forecast increase in inmates. They are at HMP Millsike, Welland Oaks, Garth and Grendon.

one of them will be category C to focus on greater education and rehabilitation.

early release in my view makes a mockery of the judicial system. But as ever our array of leaders have been slow to act.

That's what they say. They haven't even started building them, and in fact there are 500 fewer prison places since Labour took office. World class talking though.

But did she kill anyone? Did she take another's life?

The fact is, the government (and previous ones) just don't care. It shows by releasing Andrew Harper's killers early that his life was only worth 5 years (or whatever pitiful length of time it has been). It's no deterrent.

One of my friends was murdered, the fact his killer could be released early is just an horrific thing to think about. We don't get to get our friend back, they won't get to have children or get married but their killer gets to get his life back. It's not bloody fair.

So I'm with Andrew Harper's family and the police on this one. No one who has taken someone's life should be released early.

So am I. I really don’t think murders and violent offenders should be released early at all. My point is many people are saying women who commit fraud and steal should be released early.

They are only saying they should be released early in preference to someone who is in prison for manslaughter. I would have thought that it would be blindingly obvious to everyone that if you have to release someone you would choose someone who has committed a financial crime rather than a violent one. Or perhaps you prefer to have people such as P.C Harper's killers out celebrating?

Deporting the 10K foreign nationals, who make up 12% of the prison population would free up the space.

That’s not what I’m saying at all. I have said many times I don’t think violent criminals or murders good be released early. The point I’m making is that releasing fraudsters/ thieves can also have a big victim impact. Lives can be also be destroyed by financial crimes.

Maybe it’s the time to think of new types of punishment for non violent crimes.

Which country's system have you seen that works as a model of this?

Can you link to any evidence that it makes people less likely to offend?