80,000 of us banged up
While John Reid continues to contemplate early release, elsewhere it is acknowledged there is no alternative. Jails are full and include many with mental health and social problems which urgently require other measures. Like building new roads, more jails will fill as soon as they open. Our "tough" home secretary prefers to continue the political agenda adopted by the Tories in the Thatcher years.
" 'The continuing overcrowding crisis means the government faces a real choice,' said Juliet Lyon, director of the Prison Reform Trust. 'They can either use early release as a pressure valve, buying time to build a few more prisons, crowded as soon as built, or they can get to grips with the root causes of needless overcrowding and stop sending mentally ill people, petty offenders, addicts in need of treatment to prison.' " Source: Observer 6/5/2007
Posted by John Tyrrell at May 6, 2007 9:57 AM
