alternatives to prison

Question 1

what are the alternatives to prison

5

Answer 1

• restriction of liberty orders
• CPOs
• restorative justice
• Drug treatment and testing orders
• financial penalties

Question 2

restriction of liberty order stats (1)

Answer 2

•the number of prisoners released early on electronic tags rose by more than 1,000 in 7 months (2018)

Question 3

restriction of liberty orders international examples (1)

Answer 3

frequently used in scandinavia, sweden prefer to use electronic tagging as its less expensive and rehabilitation is more important in swedish prisons

Question 4

restriction of liberty orders advantages (4)

Answer 4

keeps families together
has lower recidivism rates than prison does
doesn’t exclude the criminal from society
allows the criminal to keep their job whilst serving their time and paying for their crimes

Question 5

restriction of liberty orders disadvantages (3)

Answer 5

still gives offenders access to drugs and alcohol
It may not be seen as a deterrent
promotes stigmatisation and public humiliation for the criminal which could lead to mental health issues because of the stress and anxiety of public humiliation

Question 6

restriction of liberty orders aims of sentencing

Answer 6

does meet aims of rehabilitation,incapacitation, deterrence, denunciation, retribution
does not meet aims of reparation

Question 7

community payback orders stats (2)

Answer 7

according to the telegraph 80% of the public think CPOs are too soft
for those with over 50 previous offences the likelihood of reoffending is 36% higher after a short prison sentence than a CPO

Question 8

community payback orders international examples (1)

Answer 8

In Poland, if a suspended sentence ( of up to 1 year) is breached, then instead of a custodial sentence being imposed, a community sentence is applied.

Question 9

community payback orders aims of sentencing

Answer 9

does fulfil aims of retribution, rehabilitation, reparation, denunciation
does not fulfil aims of incapacitation, deterrence

Question 10

restorative justice stats (2)

Answer 10

Thought to reduce reoffending by 14%

85% of victims who took part were satisfied

Question 11

restorative justice international examples (1)

Answer 11

In Longmont, Colorado recidivism rates are about 8% compared to other areas which do not use restorative justice at 70%

Question 12

restorative justice disadvantages (3)

Answer 12

Not available to all offenders, only those who have admitted their crime
Psychological harm may be brought to the victim
Victims may attempt to shame the offender which is not the aim of the process.

Question 13

restorative justices aims of sentencing

Answer 13

Does meet aims of retribution, rehabilitation, reparation, denunciation
Does not meet aims of incapacitation, deterrence

Question 14

Drug treatment and testing orders stats (1)

Answer 14

A recent study by Public Health England found that there was a reduction of 44% in the number of re-offenders, and a 33% reduction in the number of offences committed in the two years following treatment.

Question 15

Drug treatment and testing orders international examples (1)

Answer 15

In 2017, Norway became the first Scandinavian country to decriminalise drugs, focusing on treatment over punishment

Question 16

Drug treatment and testing orders disadvantages (1)

Answer 16

Reliability of tests is questionable, to solve this it can become increasingly costly

Question 17

Drug treatment and testing orders aims of sentencing

Answer 17

does fulfil aims of rehabilitation, denunciation

does not fulfil aims of retribution, reparation, incapacitation, deterrence

Question 18

Financial penalties stats (1)

Answer 18

According to a study by Glasgow Uni re-offending rates after receiving a fine were 23% (2012)

Question 19

Financial penalties international examples (1)

Answer 19

In Sweden the fine is proportionate to offender’s income

Question 20

Financial penalties advantages (1)

Answer 20

money is relocated into public services

Question 21

Financial penalties aims of sentencing

Answer 21

Does meet aims of retribution (if proportionate), rehabilitation, reparation, deterrence
Does not meet aims of incapacitation, deterrence

Question 22

Problems with prison

Answer 22

Overcrowding

Reoffending

Question 23

Overcrowding in prisons

Answer 23

The prison system as a whole has been overcrowded in every year since 1994 with almost 70% of prisons in England and Wales being overcrowded. Overcrowding directly causes the problems of a lack or resources, staff and space but indirectly contributes to violence, self harm and drug taking.

Question 24

Reoffending rates after prison

Answer 24

UK reoffending rates within a year of release are 48% for adults
A massive contributor to reoffending rates are short sentences, for those serving short sentences of less than 12 months 65% will reoffend within a year, 17% higher than the average.