British Democracy Forum - View Single Post - Anti-human rights

Intbel · 19-10-2005, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SGK

If a person is not sent to prison for his first, say, 10 minor offences, by the time he is sent down, probably not for long, crime has become his career and - as you say - the odd stint becomes part of the routine.

Yes, that is true - there is a case for zero-tolerance at all levels.

If a person has a problem or finds himself in a difficult situation he will, using whatever resources he has available to him, at that time, solve his problem or extricate himself from that situation.

Sometimes an action which contravenes a law may be the only option which is available to him.

If that action resolves things for him in a satisfacory manner then the likeliehood is that when he has a similar problem or is in a similar situation he will take a similar action - after all, it worked for him once, why not again?

Thus a belief is embedded in his mind "If this happens I need to do this" and unless there is some intervantion to change this he will continue that behaviour for the rest of his life.

Which is why prison frequently doesn't work - the person leaves prison without an awareness of any other means to solve his problems .. he will still continue that behaviour ... only taking greater care not to get apprehended in the future.

All prison teaches him is to become a more efficient law-breaker.