Make Justice Work in the Telegraph

08.10.09

Prison reform savings

SIR – Should the Prison Governors’ Association vote in favour of scrapping short-term prison sentences (report, October 6), this would be a major coup for rational reform.

The legislative system over the past decade has become increasingly geared towards locking people up without proper consideration given to the economics and effectiveness of handing out short-term prison sentences for low-level, non-violent crimes. Research we commissioned shows that millions could be saved if more offenders on short term prison sentences were diverted into robust alternatives to custody.

This would immediately reduce the enormous cost of our prison system, eradicate dangerous overcrowding in prisons and at the same time help cut reoffending.

Roma Hooper
Director, Make Justice Work
W1

Read this letter online here.

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