Prison sentances and community service

[carmarthenf1]

Here is an idea to save money, cut crime and re-educate released prisoners.

I read recently that one convicted crook who recieved a 12 year prison sentence was let out after only serving 5 years. Would it not be a good idea if that ex-con was made to do community service until the end of his sentence. This would also include education classes to the young about crime for white collar criminals. Drug dealers should be asked to clear up disgarded needles and help reform addicts. Burglers repair damaged public property.

Your sensible thoughts please.

[Oakey]

So someone gets 12 years, released after 5 and you want him to spend 'the remainder' doing community service? So, another 7 years of community service? And how would that work exactly? Would he spend five days a week doing CS? Or would he spend 1 day a week doing it? And you want to put drug dealers and addicts together? And you think that's a good idea?

[Rickeh]

If I had the prospect of 7 years worth of community service I think i'd commit another crime to get back in jail.

I'm not sure it'd save money because, depending how many hours per week this person is meant to be spending doing these communit service type jobs, it might stop them from being able to get a proper paid full-time job with some sort of prospects, which I would say is pretty crucial in the rehabilitation process.

If they are spending a lot of time doing these community service jobs I assume it's unpaid, which means they would need unemployment benefits etc. I suppose you could argue that this community service could be in exchange for benefits, but that would be at the expense of local people (who have not committed any crimes) trying to find jobs.