Establishing a clear and consistent understanding of the purpose of prison is an essential first step before making claims about the successes or failures of the present systemor before recommending reforms of it. Our Review believes that there has long been a ‘definition vacuum’ in the minds of both policymakers and prison managements about what prison is for. This failure to grasp the why of prison has too often undermined the understanding and the implementation of how prisons should work.
We consider that many of the weaknesses outlined in this Review stem from the incapability of successive governments to provide a clear and comprehensive definition of the purpose of prison. Considerable confusion has been created by too many ad hoc responses to short term political and administrative pressures. There has been a muddle in the minds of ministers and Her Majesty’s Prison Service (HMPS)managers about whether prisons should be focused on priorities such as ‘getting tough’ on crime; deterring criminals; imposing punishments; managing regimes; achieving targets; rehabilitating offenders; and making reparation or restoration to victims.
Published : 31st March 2009
Publisher : Centre for Social Justice [ More From This Publisher ]
Rights : Centre for Social Justice,
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