Do you think that criminals should have their

[emmie]

sentences halved if they plead guilty. It looks like Ken Clarke is having to back down, but what are your views.

[starone]

No. I think we should build more prisons. And if the criminals are foreigners they should be deported immediately and not allowed back in. I accept this is not possible under the present administration.

[sandyRoe]

They already get at least 1/3 off their sentence for 'good behaviour' Some of those crooked MP's are out already.

[emmie]

New Labour promised they would build more prisons, didn't they?
and can't see this would be right in any sense. I mean what does that say about our legal system, commit a crime, go to court, say i'm sorry and guilty as charged, get sentenced to 10 years, which is five if pleading guilty, which is half that again, because no one seems to go to jail for the alloted span

[vulcan]

No they shouldn't have the sentence halved for pleading guilty, neither should they have it reduced for good behaviour. The sentence should be served as given and time added on for misbehaviour.

[emmie]

what if someone is raped, and they see the person get 10 years, rarely seems to happen, that then means five years, and time off for good behaviour, what does that say to the victim, i know what i would feel, competely let down.

[starone]

We are let down all the time em.

[RATTER15]

There are reasons for this. Many of these crooks only get convicted because the have confessed to their crimes, I remember reading many years ago that 70% of crooks would walk free if they never confessed. So their confessions are important to the Police and society.

[joeluke]

The sentence given should be the sentence they serve

Their time shouldn't be reduced just because of a guilty plea, good behaviour, showing remorse, kissing the governors @rse etc

Anyone can pull the wool over the authorities eyes by faking remorse, showing they have learnt their lesson and are a reformed character..........only to reoffend when they are let out

[RATTER15]

It also saves the taxpayer a small fortune when the police have a confession, they no longer have to spend months investigating etc.

[paddywak]

We should go back to the days when prison was a punishment for crimes against society.not the holiday camp it seams to have turned into.

[RATTER15]

Paddywak, I would like to see you spend one week in prison and come out saying it was a holiday camp. You have obviously never been inside a prison!

[emmie]

i tend to agree, we have been hijacked into believing in prisoners rights, forgetting the reason they are there in the first place. No conjugal visits, or voting rights, no special foods, because you are from a particular religion, nor indeed anything other than fare that is plain, and sustaining.
If you can't do the time, don't do the crime, and fed up seeing bastrds walk free, or being banged up for serious crimes, getting such lenient sentences.

[RATTER15]

What people often forget is: "Prison" is a punishment, depriving you of your basic human right of freedom. Prisoners are not there to be punished in any other way.

[joeluke]

^ 'What people often forget is: "Prison" is a punishment, depriving you of your basic human right of freedom. Prisoners are not there to be punished in any other way'

They are there to be tauht a lesson that crime is wrong so what's so wrong with basic living conditions, basic foods, no TV, games consoles, gyms etc?

[RATTER15]

Joeluke, I am certainly not defending prisoners, I am telling you "how it is" Some of these prisoners need to rot in hell!!

I have not said a single word in defense of them, this is how the law is!

The days of hard labour are long gone. Now if you are required to work in prison they must pay you, a few pence an hour I believe.

[Sqad]

I agree with joeluke. em and paddywalk......re-offending statistics would suggest that NOTHING works in well over half of the criminals........they are habitual criminals.
The best that can be done for this majority is to exclude them from society for their full term and forget this nebulous concept of rehabilitation.

[RATTER15]

I totally agree Sqad!!!

It would however cost the taxpayer a huge sum!!!

[paddywak]

Ratter admittedly, like most people I've no personal experience of the prison system and can only go by what I hear through the media but the people in jail are criminals, found guilty of crimes against society, so why should society in general provide them with more then the basics of life. I'm not advocating going back to the Victorian days of treadmills, balls and chains etc but as em says I don't see why they should get any sort of special treatment or privalage

[Old_Geezer]

I think it right to have backed down, but it isn't the only thing the government should back down from. I can see the appeal of sparing the victim the court appearance with a guilty plea by the perpetrator, but half the sentence ?!? That just seemed a desperate attempt to cut the gaol population, and save money.

[RATTER15]

Yes OG, it saves money, billions of £££

I will never defend prisoners but I am a realist!

Paddywak, I understand what your saying, im not sure a TV or play-station is seen as a special privilege however. these things are in almost every home, I dont think prisoners should be allowed them though.

I would rather see a rapist admit his crime and get 3 years in prison instead of 6, than plead not guilty and walk out of court with a big smile on his face with a big finger up to his victim.