Sentencing is not the problem within our justice system. Judges are more than capable of working out what any sentence they might give means, including the prospect of early release on probation implicit within it.
The problems within our justice system are something entirely different, and twofold. The first is, of course, the dire impact of austerity that has seen every part of the justice system denied the resources it needs as a result of deliberate, and wholly economically unnecessary, cuts to services.
The second problem is the consequence of dogmatic reorganisation of service supply, most especially with regard to probation services.
Probation services were disastrously privatised by Chris Grayling in 2014. As The Guardian noted in May this year when David Gauke (then still a Tory) renationalised them:
As justice secretary, Grayling ignored significant warnings from within his department to push through his so-called transforming rehabilitation reforms in 2014.
In February, MPs on the public accounts committee said the changes were rushed through at breakneck speed, taking “unacceptable risks” with taxpayers' money. The justice committee described the overhaul a “mess” and warned it might never work.
This is the problem within our justice system, succinctly summarised.
I could take that process of summarising a little further. The issues that needs to be addressed within our justice system almost entirely arise from Tory, dogmatically driven incompetence. And a Tory prime minister should not be allowed to duck this fact.
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Hi Richard,
Agree with all of that – what sensible person would impose an unthinking 40% cut in the resources allocated to criminal justice – the party of law and order?
Also, the right always focus on the punishment part – they like that bit because it enables them to posture about being “tough on crime” and put out a few knee-jerk policies in response. But the main purpose of prison and the criminal justice system should be to protect the public. A small part of this might be indeterminate sentences for public protection but the bigger part is trying to ensure that people don’t re-offend when they are eventually released. This requires resources and evidence-based policy.
Widening this out even further, the sum of human happiness and the negative effects on it of crime are most effectively addressed (in order of importance) by:
1. Creating a healthy functioning society that is inclusive and doesn’t increase the pipeline of potential criminals
2. Effective policing to deter crime/catch people when they have committed crimes.
3. Sentencing/punishment and rehabilitation policy
The part that the right-wing get so excited about (the first part of point 3) has happened after people’s lives have already been ruined by crime!
Have you read The Secret Barrister. https://thesecretbarrister.com/. Explains details of the case.
I agree, worth reading