[barrett.t]

Tom I agree with the compassionate drive that you have and understanding you have for the victims. I also understand you wanting revenge especially when old ladies get hit over the head. My first response to crimes against the vunerable is anger and then fantasies of revenge "do unto them what they do unto you." But does this solve the problem? No it never has in my experience and maybe not in yours. I think that non - violent prisoners should be trained in a skill to make goods. Or the less risky prisoners allowed out in the day to work or learn a skill and to go back to prison at night. The money paid from the profits of their goods and training then would have to compensate the victims and pay for thier upkeep.Also when they got out they might not return to crime if they had a skill. The very violent would be kept in small prisons where they could not intimidate and rape other people. Inmates teach each other how to commit more crimes.The very violent and others would be made to go to group therapy every day. The confrontational kind. They would be looked after by tough men who would not take their shit who would be paid well and hand picked. Because the very violent possibly were taught this behaviour by one of their parents and are I think mentally ill. If they worked and were respectful and polite they could come out of their cells if not they could spend the whole of thier prison sentence in it. It would be thier behaviour that woud dictate how they were treated. If they had serious attitude they could be taken back to court for more time.Then and only then the victims and a judge would deem whether they would be allowed back into society. Both would have to agree and prisoners would have to meet their victims to see the effect on them.Those people who habitually committ crimes would lose thier civil rights these should be a privilage and not a right. Then the police could harrass them all day and all night. They could be picked up for any reason. Those who tried to con the system would be kept in forever until they genuinly relented but worked in priofitable employment. Those who had drug problems would go into drug rehabilitation centres for the duration of their sentences. Again put into profitable employment when fit enough to compensate for the damage of their crimes. Tom I do repect what you do as a profession in england the third group for victims of violence are the police. you are literally on the front line taking abuse of all kinds. The penalties for attacking the police should be very severe indeed. But I think if we allow these poeple to be brutalised in a prison system do we not become as bad as them? Should we as individuals in a democratic society try to teach those who do not respect themselves thats why they do not respect others to respect themselves and others. This in my opinion is taught by example and if we give into our feelings of revenge then I think that we are no better than them. I do not know that I am right I just think so. Thankyou I have enjoyed the debate.