Prison not always a solution
Jan 10, 2006
SIR — Problems relating to overcrowding in prison and police cells could be avoided by a paradigm shift in the judiciary because all too often offenders get sent to prison for petty criminal offences.
SIR — Problems relating to overcrowding in prison and police cells could be avoided by a paradigm shift in the judiciary because all too often offenders get sent to prison for petty criminal offences.
Our law enjoins magistrates and other judicial officers to be cautious in considering a prison sentence for first-time offenders.
This is because it is widely believed that offenders ought to be given a second chance to be reintegrated into society.
Criminologists hold the view that prisons fail to rehabilitate offenders.
Some magistrates do not heed correctional service guidelines that alternative sentencing be adopted when offenders are punished.
This is not to say that criminals should not be punished but rather that there are more creative, cost-effective and equally effective methods of ensuring that criminals own up to their actions. Such methods include forms of punishment like correctional supervision and community service.
These are imposed at a very low cost for the state and afford a convict the opportunity to contribute positively to society. A reformed convict who has regained his worth is obviously better than a brazen criminal who will hop in and out of jail.
Taxpayers must realise that they are the ones who fund criminals’ stay in “five-star hotels†where the inmates loiter around the whole day sharing tips on how to conduct the most daring heists.
Abu-bakar Matovu
matovua@gmail.com
Our law enjoins magistrates and other judicial officers to be cautious in considering a prison sentence for first-time offenders.
This is because it is widely believed that offenders ought to be given a second chance to be reintegrated into society.
Criminologists hold the view that prisons fail to rehabilitate offenders.
Some magistrates do not heed correctional service guidelines that alternative sentencing be adopted when offenders are punished.
This is not to say that criminals should not be punished but rather that there are more creative, cost-effective and equally effective methods of ensuring that criminals own up to their actions. Such methods include forms of punishment like correctional supervision and community service.
These are imposed at a very low cost for the state and afford a convict the opportunity to contribute positively to society. A reformed convict who has regained his worth is obviously better than a brazen criminal who will hop in and out of jail.
Taxpayers must realise that they are the ones who fund criminals’ stay in “five-star hotels†where the inmates loiter around the whole day sharing tips on how to conduct the most daring heists.
Abu-bakar Matovu
matovua@gmail.com