Letters - 07 September 2012
From punishment to the Quaker Friends of Israel
Punishment enough
I was not surprised to read the story in Juliet Lyon’s article (24 August) about the young man trapped by his inability to read and write. However, for many the problems run even deeper. There is good evidence that sixty per cent of young offenders may have significant spoken language problems – difficulty in understanding what people are saying and/or in expressing their own thoughts and feelings. This has implications for the benefits of ‘talking therapies’ and, of course, for the whole process of court proceedings. One young man was asked if he felt remorseful. He replied ‘No’. He was sent to prison. It later transpired that he had no idea what the word meant.
Jane Pearn
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