Custodial vs non custodial Flashcards
What is the publics perception of noncustodial sentences?
70% of the UK public support community sentences as an alternative to
prison for lower level offenders
Describe what a non custodial sentence is
non-custodial and community punishment include community payback
orders (CPOs), restriction of liberty (RLOs) and Drug Treatment Testing
Orders (DTTOs). Within Scotland these are delivered by Criminal Justice
Social Work and are focused on principles and aims of restriction,
reparation, rehabilitation and reintegration
What are more effective, custodial or non custodial?
custodial sentences have a higher reconviction rate and average number
of reconvictions per offender than any other sentence except a DTTO.
The reconviction rate for custodial sentences in Scotland in 2014−2015
was 43·3% compared to 33·5% for RLOs, 32·7% for CPOs. Reconviction
rate for DTTOs was 63·3%
Why can we critique custodial sentences?
‘prison works precisely because offenders are not committing crimes
while they are inside’ (The Telegraph, 2010) however, prison is
temporary and there is limited evidence to suggest it reduces recidivism.
Numerous cases also dispute the idea that offenders do not commit
further crimes while inside prison with mobile phone and technological
developments being used to support drug dealing and other criminal
actions while behind bars
What is the difference in cost between the two?
prison is also less cost effective than non-custodial sentences. Keeping a
convict in prison for a year costs between £30,000−40,000 in Scotland,
whereas a community payback order costs less than £10,000 a year
What link is there between Charles Murray and incarceration?
Charles Murray argues through the underclass theory that people not in education, employment or training were more likely to commit acts of crime and because of the low income - 42% of prisoners have a history of being permanently excluded from school.
What is the Home Office’s strategy for reshaping punishment?
The home office declared in their five-year strategy for protecting the public and reducing re – offending rates that they will examine the offender and take into consideration what is right for them and what form of punishment is specific to them
What is Enhanced Community Order?
An enhanced community order (ECO) is a system where the offender would have a non-custodial sentence of 12 months or less. Perpetrators would complete community work, victim-focused work, and regular programmes - Before the ECO, a psychological assessment would be conducted. Whilst the decision of an offender having an ECO is being made, the judge also takes into consideration your chances of reoffending, mental health, and the severity of the crime. During an ECO individuals complete up to three hundred hours of unpaid work. Curfews must always be met, and you may be asked to live in a different place.
