I was glad to hear today that the Government have announced a radical review (shake up) of prisons. Especially with regard to the imprisonment of people for relatively minor offences and at what sought of level custodial sentences should apply.

It worries me that too many young people end up in prison for the first time and find themselves in an institution that caters more for an education in crime and criminal networking rather than rehabilitaion.

If we could stop or at least drastically cut reoffending rates in the young it would save millions and ultimately improve the lives and long term prospects of thousands.

I am a firm believer that punishment should fit the crime and be seen by society to be fair. In addition we do have to accept that the only place for hardened criminal minds, and especially violent ones is imprisonment.

But one size does not fit all and whether this review is financially driven or not if it addresses the need to at least try and rehabilitate those on first time sentences as different from ‘long term remove from society criminals’ then that’s fine by me.

Oh and before you ask, no I don’t support the death sentence, but life should mean life!