I have long been in favour of changing the way we punish people. We seem devoid of any creative ways to look at better and more cost effective ways of punishing those who break our laws.
I believe prison must exist for the worst crimes - murder, rape, armed robbery, serious violent crimes but, for lesser crimes, we should be thinking of some new ways that do not involve locking them up and begrudging the cost. In the meantime we should focus on rehabilitation.
I do not include those serving long term sentences in the notion that prisoners should have the vote
but for those who have less than 4 years and so will come out of the prison service while the newly elected government is still in situ, we need to see giving them the vote as part of their rehabilitation process.
Too many people do not want to understand that prison is the punishment, loss of freedom is the real kicker and that we shouldn't be making their lives completely miserable nor should we write them off.
Many prisoners have made some terrible mistakes but for some, that is all it is. Everyone deserves a chance to turn their lives around and many do - becoming worthwhile citizens who can contribute more than the average person.
At the conservative conference there was a great speaker, an ex offender who now works for St Giles. This is an extract from The Prisoners Education website
The conference also heard from an ex-prisoner, Elroy, who works at St. Giles Trust said he spent a long time in and out of prison, then tragically, a younger prisoner he had been trying to help died from a drugs overdose weeks after his release. This gave Elroy the motivation to engage in education for the first time inside and it offered him a different path.
If a person is to take self responsibility, become a good citizen and to not re-offend then they need to become part of a democracy that values law and boundaries, to take their vote seriously and to learn about what the issues are facing the country, rather than the insular, selfish mindset that probably got them to their prison cell in the first place.
Budding MPs could visit prisons and engage those that are about to be released as part of the prisoners 'home run'.
As for smoking - well I used to be a smoker and if anyone had taken away my tobacco in my own 'home' I would've probably threatened some bad behaviour too!
What is it to be? - Do we care enough about their health that we worry so much about the damage of smoking? Oh really? When did that happen?!
Well I do - and I say let them have smoke. There could be smoking cells and non-smoking cells - why not let them come up with a solution that satisfies both parties?
Do we want to make the lives of prison wardens even harder - why don't we start with eliminating illegal drugs first - wow what a random idea that is.
They have been put in prison and often spend hours a day locked in their cells - are we also going to take away the small comforts? Prison and it's regime is punishment enough - and probably a lot more damaging to their health than any tobacco smoke - which I imagine are extremely thin and do less damage than car fumes, from which they do not have to suffer.
Please - why are we bothering to do this in such a lazy way?
Let's be innovative, creative, punish with rehabilitation, deliver training and show some compassion.
We might get more Elroys and wouldnt that be just grand..
Friday, 30 October 2015
Monday, 26 October 2015
Ipswich Conservatives go Green for Halloween!
We were talking to residents in Stoke Park this weekend and we showed our support of the NSPCC's campaign for this halloween.
So just for a change for me, I went Green - for Halloween! And so did some of my colleagues including Ben Gummer.
The NSPCC is one of my favourite charities and I give to them regularly but for this particular campaign I am going to search for every bit of change lying around in my house to donate and my husband will be pleased of the clear out. They are in every nook and cranny of our house and weigh down various handbags, including those I dont use any more. Should be fun.
And it will be interesting to see how much it all is!
Hope you will support the charity when you see one of the particpants trying to raise some funds this weekend.
And have fun on Halloween - not my thing but now I have grandchildren of the right age, I might find something to enjoy!
So just for a change for me, I went Green - for Halloween! And so did some of my colleagues including Ben Gummer.
The NSPCC is one of my favourite charities and I give to them regularly but for this particular campaign I am going to search for every bit of change lying around in my house to donate and my husband will be pleased of the clear out. They are in every nook and cranny of our house and weigh down various handbags, including those I dont use any more. Should be fun.
And it will be interesting to see how much it all is!
Hope you will support the charity when you see one of the particpants trying to raise some funds this weekend.
And have fun on Halloween - not my thing but now I have grandchildren of the right age, I might find something to enjoy!
Friday, 23 October 2015
Suffolk Community Action
|
|
Young people in Suffolk vote in biggest numbers yet
|
15 Suffolk organisations needed for Social Impact pilot project
|
Rural communities: The end of the road for local banking?
|
Communities across England are set to benefit from more than £132.6 million
|
Positive meeting held about the future of Castle Hill Community Centre
|
|
|
Welcome to new CAS members
|
|
|
|
|
|
Empowering children, young people and vulnerable adults to use digital technology safely
|
|
|
BSC Supplementary School, currently supported by BBC Children In Need, is organising a sports marathon on Saturday 7 November 2015 at St Helens Primary School, Ipswich, IP4 2LT (2pm to 4pm). Children, parents, staff & volunteers will be trying to go around the sports circuit as many times as possible to raise money for the BBC charity event in the week leading up to the main “Children In Need” national fundraising evening on 16 November. BBC Children in Need is the BBC's UK corporate charity and they provide grants to projects in the UK which focus on children and young people who are disadvantaged. Covering all corners of the UK they support small and large organisations which empower children and extend their life choices.
|
|
|
|
|
Suffolk Community Foundation – High Sheriff’s Fund
|
|
|
|
|
Tuesday, 20 October 2015
Welfare Bill Debate
Below is the conservative governement stance and one I back, not just because of party line. I'm never afraid to admit that I don't agree with a policy - we can't all agree on every single thing our parties do and say.
I've been told that 90% of people will be better off or neutral under the plan and as long as this is true, I'm more than convinced this is the right way to go. Many people are moaning about the plan - including the lady on BBC Question time - when they don't even know how they will be affected! So brainwashed by the mantra of the left who, after increasing the gap between the rich and the poor, think they can give us lessons on the economy - you have to admire them for their nerve.
The hysteria is whipped up by the left - just like they said before the coalition that we would push up unemployment, inflation, etc they are going to be proved wrong here too. That's not to say some won't suffer but we will be able to mitigate that, as Boris Johnson says, someone will be working on it now.
There are so many myths surrounding this and other plans like Universal credit - that'll be next but those on it say it's easier and they receive more money.
So read this for yourself and feel free to discuss - but any nasty or personal comments will not get published, nor will any anonymous ones. If you have something to say then stop hiding and be a grown up!
I've been told that 90% of people will be better off or neutral under the plan and as long as this is true, I'm more than convinced this is the right way to go. Many people are moaning about the plan - including the lady on BBC Question time - when they don't even know how they will be affected! So brainwashed by the mantra of the left who, after increasing the gap between the rich and the poor, think they can give us lessons on the economy - you have to admire them for their nerve.
The hysteria is whipped up by the left - just like they said before the coalition that we would push up unemployment, inflation, etc they are going to be proved wrong here too. That's not to say some won't suffer but we will be able to mitigate that, as Boris Johnson says, someone will be working on it now.
There are so many myths surrounding this and other plans like Universal credit - that'll be next but those on it say it's easier and they receive more money.
So read this for yourself and feel free to discuss - but any nasty or personal comments will not get published, nor will any anonymous ones. If you have something to say then stop hiding and be a grown up!
In the Summer Budget, we offered a new deal for working people. It means Britain moving from a high-welfare, high-tax, low-wage economy to a lower-welfare, lower-tax and higher-wage one. We don’t pretend all the decisions we have taken were easy. But the reforms we make come as a single coherent plan.
It involves a new National Living Wage, reformed tax credits and lower taxes. It’s simply not credible to impose higher wages and leave tax credits unreformed, condemning taxpayers to ever-higher welfare bills. That’s a classic approach of thinking you can have everything, and in the end achieving nothing.
Taken together with all the welfare savings and our tax cuts, a typical family where someone is working full time on the minimum wage will be over £2,400 a year better off by the end of the parliament.
The alternative to making savings in welfare is cutting the NHS, cutting working people’s pay by putting up taxes, or borrowing more and burdening our children with more debt.
Wednesday, 7 October 2015
Free workshops for parents of disabled children aged 0–18
Contact a Family Local Support Hub – Suffolk
Hyndman Centre, Hospital Road, Bury St Edmunds IP33 3JT
15 October 2015
How and where to access funding to help you care for your child and family’s needs
10 December 2015
Deluxe Christmas pamper session Tips on identifying and reducing stress and how to make change
12 November 2015
Overcoming the challenges of getting out and about and having fun with your child
All from 10am – 1pm with lunch provided To book call 01473 614452 or email eastofengland@cafamily.org.uk
15 October 2015
How and where to access funding to help you care for your child and family’s needs
10 December 2015
Deluxe Christmas pamper session Tips on identifying and reducing stress and how to make change
12 November 2015
Overcoming the challenges of getting out and about and having fun with your child
All from 10am – 1pm with lunch provided To book call 01473 614452 or email eastofengland@cafamily.org.uk
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)