Sweeping headlines

We need a more rational debate about crime and punishment

This week has seen the beginning of the usual banter leading up to the party conferences as well as the tendency to engage in political gimmickry (as seen by Chris Grayling’s reference to the Wire and Broken Britain). So the general public must be on their guard if they are going to be allowed access to any kind of rational, informed debate around those policies which will impact on their day to day lives, in particular crime.
 
More worrying is the possibility of irresponsible reporting which can only serve to reduce the sort of sensible debate we must have around crime and punishment in this country. This week the Guardian’s glib reporting of the Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme (ISSP): “Youth rehabilitation scheme not helping offenders, says study” is of real concern. It would appear from the article that this very important rehabilitation programme is no good and should be abandoned. But this study is only based on research into 2 out the 100 schemes running – hardly representative. Even more problematic is that the only two comments from offenders which are quoted in this article simply do not provide any insight into the issues around the challenges facing this programme and those who engage with it. 
 
The implicit suggestion that prison is a better option is frighteningly naïve. I wonder if the author of this report has any idea that putting these youngsters in prison only has the effect of removing them from their community for a short time, education and training is extremely scarce in prisons and largely unavailable for short sentenced prisoners (which most of this cohort would fit into), they would be unlikely to have access to any support on their release, would have had the benefit of living cheek by jowl with those whose offences are much worse and worse still, it is a very expensive way of making someone worse. This is why over 75% of this age group come out of prison and reoffend.
 
Prison is quite simply not the answer for these 10 to 17 youngsters who represent one of the most challenging groups within the criminal justice system. The focus must be on ensuring that programmes such as ISSP are appropriately funded and supported. It is absolutely right that such programmes are rigorous and challenging. As Frances Done points out, the conclusions from this research are very sweeping. Prisons are overcrowded and resource thirsty. We, the public, need to be on our guard to not to be persuaded by sweeping headlines that can steer us away from the much more rational debate which needs to had about crime and punishment.
 

Make Justice Work has a regular blog where we post regular updates and thoughts on Britain’s prison system. We would love to hear your opinions so please click here to read the blog and post comments.
 
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Roma Hooper is founder and director of Make Justice Work

28 Aug 2009 12:10

 

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