“Short sentences work because of the shock the prisoner feels when he initially goes into the system. They do feel a complete loss of freedom, they can't handle the noise, being ordered around, loss of choice, etc. BUT after a time, all prisoners, no matter how harsh the regime, get used to it. They learn how to cope and the thought of returning isn't the problem they thought it was.
Those who have problems understanding, need to read a few books or watch some relevent films on POW's and people who were incaserated in Nazi death camps. Prisoners in those places learned to survive and cope with their situation. In some case, they fought back.
No UK prison could be like those places and it doesn't take much to realise that prison should be used as deterrant for most criminals.
Obviously the likes of Moors Murderers and the Yorkshire Ripper, should never be released until they can no longer harm others.”

“Prison is too soft. Jack Straw MP, and Home Secretary/Justice Minister/whatever in the last Labour government, made a prison visit about 2-3 years ago which was shown on national tv. One of the inmates came up to Jack, on a prison landing, and said straight to Jack's face. "This place is like a holiday camp". Jack was on camera, and was lost for words !
Prison will only work when the regime is harsh. People stepping outside the prison gates saying, "I'm NEVER going back in there again.
As an aside, I read a few years ago that the re-offending rate in UK civilian prisons is "about" 60 %. I also read that the re-offending rate in the "glasshouse" (British Army Military Prisons) , was 3%. Bit of a difference.”

“Dont listen to this cretin clarke,longer sentences mean more money
thats all this lib/con disaster are worried about what it costs and not the safety of the general public!”

“Longer sentences should be less about the needs of the guilty and more about justice for the victim.

@ TheArrow - As shown by the American justice system, the standard of the prison makes little difference. Simply being provided humane facilities like food, warmth and basic stimulation is an improvement on life outside. While I disagree with over-indulgent luxuries at the expense of the tax payer it has little affect on re-offending. It is a much larger socio-economic issue.”

“Why has the EP decided to not allow comments on the drugs raids?”

“What LONG sentences????”

“Mr Clarke is being extremely disingenuous. He knows that the high rates of reoffending often quoted are an overall figure, and that the highest rates of reoffending are for prison sentences less than 6 months. As the prison sentences increase the reoffending rate dramatically decreases so that the reoffending rate for sentences over 12 years are down to single figures.

There is a very simple way to stop this nonsense. Have one sentence of a term not exceeding 500 years for all offences. If the criminal can prove that he will not reoffend he will get early release, if not he can rot in prison.”

“If the prisons were run like prisons instead of holiday camps they wouldn't want to go back.”