Grayling on prisons

[ConfusedPixie]

Not the smacking comment, I have no interest in that comment and there is already a thread to discuss that.

I am interested in the rest of the article:
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2272572/Criminals-face-new-spartan-prisons-Justice-Secretary-s-tough-regime-uniforms-Sky-TV-pocket-money.html?ICO=most_read_module#axzz2JqTbkCgD

And what he is saying about what he wants to do in prisons. What do you all think? I'm torn. I agree that Sky TV and other 'luxuries' shouldn't really be available and that education is a good thing in prisons, but introducing 'uniforms' and taking way the right to use pocket money on small things like sweets seems a bit much?
FWIW I do think that prisoners seem to get given too many luxuries, but how much of what they get is considered a 'luxury' and how much 'luxury' is fair?

I also know nothing about Grayling, or read the news often, but this article peaked my interest.

Have you ever visited a prison?

Seems there are plenty of people willing to claim that prison's too soft, 99.9% of whom have never been near one.

Lazy dog-whistle politics. Oddly enough, he doesn't say anything about employing lots more prison officers to keep order in jails where the inmates are bored out of their skulls and frustrated...

Yes I have, a long time ago though. I haven't said it's 'too soft' as I'm not naive enough to think that it's easy to be in prison, that there aren't gangs or people who want run of the place in them.

It's just that I don't think luxuries like sky TV should really have a place there and also I'm not too sure if what I think of as a luxury is what somebody else would see as one. Personally that is because I don't see why a luxury that many people can't afford in day-to-day life should be available to those in prison.

And whilst education is a 'luxury' of sorts I agree that those in prison should have access to an education in order to gain skills and/or qualifications that may help them later in life (I actually feel that education should be more accessible/affordable to everybody but that's not one I'll get to see happen in my lifetime is it?)

He doesn't say anything about employing more guards no, that would be a good idea no doubt they have some bollocksy reason as to why they can't afford this.

I think prisons should be less luxurious. No tvs, no selection of food where each prisoner gets more £ per day spent on them than those in hospital, they should work or be educated, uniforms are fine, lets make it tough so they don't want to go back.

You could make them as harsh as you like, it still wouldn't deal with the reasons many people offend and re-offend. It's still a roof over your head, it's still a bed for the night, things that aren't always on offer once you are released. Banning Sky doesn't stop a violent thug who beats his wife or partner being a violent thug, or stop an addict being an addict.

Grayling is just playing to the gallery - it's nonsense and he knows full well it is nonsense.