Crime: Prisons Flashcards
Roles/purposes of prisons
Rehabilitation, punishment, protecting the public
Prisons rehabilitation example
The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) funds 38 full time Open University courses each year to help rehabilitate and train prisoners for life and employment after prison
Prison punishment example
A Scottish Government Survey showed that 2/3 of Scotland believes that imprisonment is an appropriate punishment for those who commit crimes
Prisons public protection example
Aaron Campbell was sentenced to life in prison after murdering Alesha MacPhail, he is no longer a danger to the public
Prisons ineffective
Cost, overcrowding, high reoffending rates, mental health/drug problems
Cost of prisons example
According to the Scottish Government, it costs around £40,000 per year to keep someone in prison as of 2023
Prisons high reoffending rates example
In 2018-19, the reconviction rate for custodial sentences was 43.8%
Short-term sentences have been shown to be ineffective, with more than half of those sentenced to less than six months being reconvicted within a year
Prisons overcrowding example
10 out of 16 public prisons in Scotland were over capacity in 2024
Prisons mental health/drug problems example
Around 70% of prisoners in Scotland have histories of poor mental health and/or substance abuse issues
Alternatives to prison
Financial fines, Community Payback Orders, Anti-Social Behaviour Orders
Financial fines example
Malina Rush was fined £1000 by Glasgow Sheriff Court for accessing online information while serving as a juror
Community Payback Orders example
Former rugby player Rufus McLean was given a Community Payback Order which ordered him to complete 120 hours of unpaid work for domestic abuse
Anti-Social Behaviour Orders example
Michael O’Rourke was given an Anti-Social Behaviour Order for repeatedly playing Dolly Parton music too loudly. Despite the order, he continued this behaviour and was eventually sentenced to 4 months in prison
Alternatives to prison effective
Cost effective, rehabilitation, prevent overcrowding
Alternatives to prison cost effective example
Imprisoning someone for one year costs around £40,000 as of 2023, however a Community Payback Order only costs around £2400
Alternatives to prison rehabilitation example
There are drug and alcohol reduction programs that address root causes of criminal behaviour available for people when they are kept integrated in society through a prison alternative
Alternatives to prison prevent overcrowding example
In 2024, 10 out of 16 prisons were over capacity
Alternatives to prison ineffective
Do not punish offenders enough, do not deter criminals effectively, hard to monitor offenders
Alternatives to prison do not punish offenders example
Kaeleb Thomas was given a CPO with 300 hours of unpaid work, and a 6 month home detention curfew for a serious assault, some people think that this punishment was not enough
Alternatives to prison do not deter criminals example
Michael O’Rourke continued his disruptive behaviour of playing Dolly Parton too loudly despite being given an ASBO, and was eventually sentenced to 4 months in prison
Alternatives to prison hard to monitor offenders example
38% of Home Detention Curfews were recalled for curfew breaches in 2025
