Fair Sentence?

[Brancaster]

With a string on convictions for violence is society the right place for her try "turn her life around" or would a secure mental institution or prison be more appropriate and safer for the public? Media URL: http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/11402087.Woman_with__breathtaking__record_of_violence_escapes_jail
Description:

[Brancaster]

http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/11402087.Woman_with__breathtaking__record_of_violence_escapes_jail_for_18th_assault/?ref=var_0

[Svejk]

think I'd have to agree with you.

[sinderella]

i think the lunatics are taking over the asylum

[EDDIE51]

The NHS Mental Health Service has been virtually annihilated in the recent cost cutting moves. It no longer exists to any meaningful extent.
So the only other option was prison , in prison she would have mixed with other violent prisoners and in all probability got worse. Women's jails are notorious for being worse than men's jails for violence as only the very worst case's end up there.

[Old_Geezer]

I'm unsure that preventing the perpetrator getting worse is a good swop for preventing the public enduring more of the violence. Of course the real solution would be to have the wards / institutions in place.

[ChillDoubt]

She deserves to be inside and for quite a stretch.

1. Because she deserves to be.

2. She'll get all the help and treatment she needs inside, whereas she'd ironically struggle to avail herself of such services whilst remaining free.

How did she get/retain a job as an estate agent? As her boss I'd be wary of letting her loose with clients in an uncontrolled environment!

[ToraToraTora]

Dam savage should be in jail for the good of the public. The sad thing is If I did that I'd go straight down most probably. Quite breathtaking, perhaps M'Lud needs to get out into the real world on occasion, 18 offences of violence and she still isn't in jail. Eddie, what has the NHS got to do with the price of eggs? Violent multiple offender should in any civilised society = jail, end of.

[hc4361]

ChillDoubt, the prisons are full of mentally ill prisoners who get very little or no help.

[sunny-dave]

I agree with TTT about one thing - if a man had committed this single crime (let alone the 17 previous ones) he would be in gaol.

Why is there a "pre-disposition not to gaol women" for offences where a man would be gaoled in a heartbeat. I thought we were in an age of equality?

[ToraToraTora]

we are dave but some are more equal than others!

[Old_Geezer]

Are you under the impression society has ever treated men and women equally dave ?

[sunny-dave]

OG - women have suffered much oppression from society over the years, but we should be getting beyond that.

However the quid pro quo perhaps also needs to be an examination of some areas where women are treated better (or more leniently) by virtue of their sex?

[ChillDoubt]

hc......I bet she'd still get seen quicker than an NHS patient whilst inside though.

[EDDIE51]

It is significant that she had 'sought help from the mental health service' before this offence but was still waiting for assessment.
That is probably the reason the judge thought himself able to suspend the sentence.If you read the link the judge was uneasy about this and warned her that just one breach of the sentence would result in her being immediately sent to prison. Obviously 'estate agent' is not one of the jobs where a CRB check is necessary despite the fact that she could have unsupervised contact with vulnerable people ( the elderly for example), a CRB check would have shown up her violent past and precluded her getting such a job.
She will lose her job now though and be virtually unemployable.

[EDDIE51]

Chilldought the mental health service inside prisons has virtually ceased to exist as well , she will just be locked up and forgotten.

[ChillDoubt]

Strange then that they appear to have access to Mental Health Services here:

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CC0QFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rethink.org%2Fresources%2Fh%2Fhealthcare-in-prison-factsheet&ei=v0bqU77mE8qs0QWP94GgAQ&usg=AFQjCNG8lJfOMGX7DeQGJ7x21QWownNEzA&sig2=PjxwRGcDBQhRod9l8cxXXA&bvm=bv.72676100,d.bGQ

If they don't I've no doubt a lawyer/ECHR representative would be all over the Prison Service like a pigeon on a chip. I'm sure if she tried hard enough whilst inside she'd get the access to the services she supposedly needs.

[ChillDoubt]

a CRB check would have shown up her violent past and precluded her getting such a job.
She will lose her job now though and be virtually unemployable.
-------------------
Again, as a former prisoner, as is the way upon release I'm sure under some rehabilitation scheme she'd soon get a job again.
This link is 6 years old but I'm sure that matters at present are not very dissimilar:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2464498/More-spent-on-food-for-prisoners-than-for-NHS-patients.html

[EDDIE51]

chilldought your fact sheet shows what is supposed to happen, as we both know the reality is different.

[ChillDoubt]

As I say Eddie, if a prisoner is being 'sold short' I'm sure a member of the legal profession/ECHR would do their utmost in making it a cause celebre.
Better this 'lady' is off the streets seeking help than on them IMHO.

[ummmm]

I agree with Eddie.