Do You Agree Or Disagree With This Academic, Should Prisoners Be Paid A Living Wage?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/prisoners-should-paid-living-wage-10047421

[Baldric]

I have no objection to them being paid a living wage provided they are charged the going rate for B & B accommodation + evening meals + gym membership + whatever else they use!

[woofgang]

I would want to see objective reasons for and against before commenting. That's not a very informative article.

[Retrochic]

Rubbish -they are there to be punished not given money.

[Ric.ror]

I agree with Baldric on this actually

[Ric.ror]

I meant to add they should also pay for the court costs and any reparation to the victims

[Zacs-Master]

Not exactly a deterrent to committing crime is it? I don't think the proff has thought this one thru. Image someone on a 10 stretch coming out with thousands of pounds. I wonder what he'd invest it in?

[Retrochic]

yes because we all know those going to prison are rolling in it. How on earth could a convict pay the thousands of pounds in costs to convict them -perhaps the Government could take £1 a week out of their benefits when they come out?

[Ric.ror]

perhaps the Government could take £1 a week out of their benefits when they come out?

What a good idea retro - never thought of that

[RATTER15]

Just "being there" is the sentence prescribed by the court, the courts to my knowledge cannot give any further punishment to be carried out once they are in prison. The punishment is being "deprived of their liberty"

I could be wrong!

[naomi24]

I can’t see the point. If they’re paid a living wage I assume they’ll be charged for their living expenses. Just more administration and paperwork.

[Retrochic]

Some of them are not "deprived of their liberty" low risk prisoners are allowed out to work!

https://www.gov.uk/life-in-prison/education-and-work-in-prison

[sandyRoe]

Some prisoners are released with the equivalent of a week or twos JSA. If they have to find somewhere to live it wouldn't go far. I don't know about a living wage but a larger sum when they're released might help keep some from quickly re-offending.

[Ric.ror]

Just more administration and paperwork.

Something for the old lags to do perhaps

[naomi24]

Not from the government end.

[anotheoldgit]

In another article, he was quoted as saying, "People are sent to prison as a punishment, not for punishment,

[andy-hughes]

If prisoners are being paid a living wage in order to accustom them to the notion of working for proper payment outside when the are released, then that must be implemented in line with taking appropriate taxes, insurance, and living expenses , which are also a part of living in the wider world.

[bazwillrun]

So not only would taxpayers be paying to keep them in jail, but also pay them a wage whilst they are there....so crime would pay !

[Togo]

I am led to believe that unconvicted prisoners can get up to 52 weeks housing benefit and convicted prisoners 13 weeks housing benefit. So their rent is paid despite being 'accommodated' in prison.

[youngmafbog]

I think this Academic is being a bit naive. But then most of them are since they dont live in the real world and often have never contributed directly to the GDP themselves.

[youngmafbog]

//but a larger sum when they're released might help keep some from quickly re-offending.//

Yep, and more for drugs.