The government is like, totally rethinking its whole approach because of the overcrowded prisons and tight finances. Short sentences are on the chopping block, with community rehab looking like the new kid on the block.
Liz Bates, what do you think about the government’s plan to switch things up with shorter sentences and more community rehab?
Prison is like, super expensive, y’all. It costs about £60,000 per person per year, while community sentences are only like £4,500 a year. Money talks, right? But it’s not just about saving those pounds, mate.
Research shows that short stints in the slammer, especially for first-timers, can actually make things worse. It’s like, they end up coming out even more criminal-minded than when they went in. Not really sure why this matters, but it’s food for thought.
So, there’s this woman named Charlie who used to be a junkie shoplifter from Leeds. She says being in and out of prison just made her drug problem worse. She was in this cycle of getting out, being homeless, and then going right back to the drugs. It’s a tough gig, man.
Charlie finally got her act together when a court sent her to a rehab facility for drug treatment. After years of addiction and crime, one judge’s decision made all the difference. It’s like, a little kindness goes a long way.
Over at Preston probation centre, there’s this officer named Bex who’s not so sure about short sentences either. She reckons they just mess up people’s lives even more. Like, they lose their homes, end up on the streets, and then fall back into their old habits. It’s a vicious cycle, mate.
Bex has seen firsthand that there are better ways to help people turn their lives around. It takes time to build trust with these folks, but there’s some amazing work happening every day that really changes lives. Props to people like Bex and Charlie for making a real difference.
The government is like, all about this new direction. They’re focusing on community rehab and ditching those short sentences. It’s like a breath of fresh air, man. Tune in to Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge at 7 pm to get the lowdown on what’s happening in the world of prisons. Cheers!
