Home      Login

Abstract: 

It is clear when we look at the profile of the majority of offenders in our prisons that it reflects multiple disadvantages, such as illiteracy, learning problems, few employable qualifications, poor education and job records, and higher than usual mental health and substance abuse issues. Moreover, some offenders have been in care of the state since childhood. It seems that it is an enormous waste of resources to imprison and punish this many disadvantaged offenders while ignoring the underlying causes of their actions. Although it is important to meet the needs and rights of the victims of crime, there are usually very few resources available for this task after we pay for the costs of court and corrections. We need to hold in better balance the issues of care and control.

Keywords: Prevention; alternative sanctions; desistance-focused supervison

Affiliations:  1: Journal Editor.