Legal News
Prison Fails To Rehabilitate Prisoners, Claims Justice Secretary (23 September 2011)
Date: 23/09/2011
Justice Secretary Ken Clarke has claimed that prison fails to stop criminals being criminals. Mr. Clarke told the BBC that the increase in the prison population is “pointless” and that he would “like to stabilise the situation.” Mr. Clarke told of his concern over “the sheer casual criminality” displayed during the recent civil unrest. The prison population in England reached an all-time high following the riots as judges refused rioters bail. Recent figures reveal that 87,120 people are currently locked up in prison in England and Wales – a mere 1,627 below the full capacity of the prison estate. Other figures have revealed that three-quarters of those charged over the riots already possessed a criminal record.
Mr. Clarke believes that half of those currently in prison will return to prison within one year and three quarters will go on to commit further criminal offences. Mr. Clarke described the re-offending figures in England and Wales as “a disgrace”, and claimed that these figures must be tackled.
Commenting on the recent prison population figures, Frances Crook, the chief executive officer of Howard League for Penal Reform, told how he considered the record prison population to be indicative of failure rather than success. Mr. Crook described prisons as “colleges of crime” and claimed that offenders are more dangerous following leaving prisons having learnt the “tricks of the trade” while serving their time.
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