Government plans will increase prison numbers
01 January 1991
Government plans will increase prison numbers
artdoc June=1991
The general secretary of the National Association of Probation
Officers, Mr. Harry Fletcher, says that Government plans to
punish more offenders in the community are likely to actually
increase the numbers in prison by at least 1,000. Under the
plans, judges and magistrates would be able to impose much
stricter probation conditions on offenders, as well as
requiring them to undertake combined packages of community
service, compensation to victims, and electronic tagging. But
it is feared that these tougher non-custodial sentences will
lead to more breaches, for which prison sentences will then be
imposed.
The prison population will also be boosted by plans to
make prisoners serve half their sentences before being
considered for parole, as opposed to only a third at present.
(Independent 24.9.90)
IRR Police-Media Bulletin No 64. Institute of Race Relations,
2-6 Leeke Street, London WC1X 9HS