Quote Originally Posted by TSANHO View Post
I've always liked the idea of prisoners having to work, or give something back to society whilst they are serving their time. Whatever that may entail, cleaning up the streets, helping others and anything that may help them see 'the other side'. Like the OP says, how does locking people up for 23 hours a day help rehabilitate a criminal....The devil finds work for idle minds and all that.

Perhaps a 5 year minimum stint in the armed forces would straighten some of them out and give them some self worth. Complete their 5 years and evaluate their progress then, if they can't, or are unwilling, then let them complete longer jail terms with less chance of parole.

Of course, some criminals are too dangerous to be released, but with the lesser criminals being made to be a use to society e.g the armed forces, the prisons wouldnt be so cramped and the re-offending rates would hopefully be reduced.
Slightly off topic, perhaps, but I believe the return of National Service might help reduce the offending in the first place by giving a sense of self-worth to many. Maybe I'm a bit old fashioned though.