EVERY so often the subject of offenders being imprisoned is raised.We are subjected to the usual barrage of well meaning voices telling us that prison is not a deterrent and serves no useful purpose and that many convicted robbers, muggers, drug dealers and men of violence will almost certainly re-offend after leaving prison.
There is much talk of rehabilitation, but despite all the best efforts of the liberal minded do-gooders we see little, if any, change.
Sometimes we hear stories that prison is quite a comfortable place to be - with TV (although this in itself could be called punishment) computers, mobile phones, recreation facilities, libraries, education classes, and all too often, the availability of drugs. No wonder the re-offending rate is high.
Far too much time, effort and taxpayers money is spent on convicted criminals.
But surely we are missing the point here. There is another aspect to having an offender locked away.
Once ‘inside’ society in general gains a well deserved respite, and law abiding citizens can go about their business feeling safer. A neighbourhood once terrorised by teenage gangs have the right to live their lives in peace and not be fearful of their cars being vandalised or windows broken and to be free from physical and verbal abuse.
In days gone by, and certainly in other countries, a more austere regime was, and still is, embraced. Surely prison should be a deterrent. Take away all the home comforts and make prison a place where criminals will think twice about, before returning to their old ways.
Then we will get the hand wringing ‘human rights’ brigade, loud in their condemnation of such a change. But if a person chooses to break the law then he/she forgoes all ‘rights.’
We all have choices.
From a very early age, the majority of us learn right from wrong and sometimes a persons home life and upbringing is offered as an excuse for their criminal activities, but if that person chooses to break the law, then he/she must take the consequences.
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