Make Criminal Justice frightening again.
Re-establish distinction between misdemeanour and felony offences with gaol and prison distinctions that were removed by the Criminal Justice act 1967. Things do not seem to have improved since then. Historically, local gaols were (broadly) less harsh than prisons.
This would align generally along lines of offences tried by magistrate’s vs higher courts - currently summary vs indictable offences.
Misdemeanours to be punished with minimum 2 weeks hard conditions followed by training and rehabilitation. (The two weeks may be carried out at a prison rather than gaol)
Felonies. Minimum 2 months hard conditions before eligibility for training and rehabilitation.
Third repeat offences become felonies automatically with all hard conditions for duration of sentence. These people will have demonstrated that they cannot be, or do not wish to be, rehabilitated.
Life sentences to be automatically hard conditions for life (i.e. until death.) No early release or minimum term. No point re-habilitating them as they will not be coming out.
No early release.
No open prisons. (Existing ones can be fenced securely as prisoner accommodation while being converted. - see below)
Hard conditions to include hard labour, no TV, no phone. Basic food only.
Prisoners to build new prisons. This would provide training opportunities for those who qualified to learn an honest trade. Existing open prisons to be used as land for higher security facilities.
Hot bunk systems if shortfall of spaces.
Foreign convicts to be given appropriate hard conditions for 2 weeks or months (as above) before deportation and prohibition on ever returning. To be photographed, fingerprinted and DNA tested.
The effect of all convicted persons having experience of hard conditions would make them realise the consequences of re-offending.
