Judicial Madness
Good grief, Britain has gone completely mad! How come two paedophiles can be let off from sentencing because the prisons are too full but they can find space for a News of the World reporter who’s been tapping a few phones? Who is the bigger threat to society? It’s all up side down - the judicial system is protecting those who can fend for themselves (the wealthy) and completely failing those who are vunerable.
I appreciate that prisons take time to build, and while it appears that we need more prisons there must be alternatives to simply letting people off. If sick people have to queue in NHS waiting lists (which is also wrong), why can’t less dangerous criminals be put on waiting lists for prison (eg fraudsters and other non-violent criminals)? As soon as a space becomes available (when they’ve built the new prisons) they get put in the slammer. The other alternative is to look carefully at what crimes attract custodial sentences - do they all really warrant prison sentences? Perhaps months and months of community service (really dirty, smelly jobs) would be more of a deterent.
Since the careers of many criminals begin during their teenage years perhaps we might reinstate the town centre stocks instead of giving out ASBOs. If ASBOs are a badge of honour, perhaps rotten tomato stains would be considered a badge of disgrace. There’s nothing quite like a bit of public humiliation for cleansing the soul.
February 2nd, 2007 at 10:11 am
Jo - have you thought of going into politics? You should seriously consider it.
February 3rd, 2007 at 08:34 am
It’s nice of you to say it, but I think I’m a bit too soft and squishy inside for politics. It’s the same reason why I would be a rubbish teacher. I fret over it if someone is mean to me.