Swimming against the tide
Ben Jarman reports on the Quakers in Criminal Justice conference
An overwhelming body of research has shown that many British prisons are close to breaking point. Politicians eager for votes have postured to be tougher on crime, and rapidly filling prisons have struggled to cope with an imprisonment rate that already exceeds that of most countries in Europe. The rehabilitative function of prisons has come under strain, and reoffending rates remain unacceptably high, especially among the increasing proportion of prisoners serving short sentences for comparatively minor offences. As Quakers we have long been aware of these issues and the importance of justice for all. In this context, the Ministry of Justice’s recent Green Paper on sentencing, Breaking the Cycle, offers grounds for hope; although prompted in part by the need to cut budgets, it does offer solutions that may wean a sick system from its addiction to punishment. The Green Paper, backed by Kenneth Clarke, has sparked intense dissent among sections of the Tory party and the media.
