Lock 'em up (continued)...

Why do we lock people up? Deterrence? Doesn't work - just look at the reoffending rates. Rehabilitation? Doesn't work - same comment. Retribution? Possibly, but as discussed yesterday, it's an expensive way of going about it, and it can be argued there are better means of achieving that objective. Security? Ah, yes, now we're getting there! Imprisonment should be confined to those who present a positive danger to society, or some member(s) thereof. But in fact our prisons are full of people who pose no danger whatever to anyone, and to keep them there is uncivilised and costs a great deal of money. Of course, there is another side to the coin - those who do present a danger should not only be imprisoned, but kept in prison on an indefinite basis until such time as they no longer pose a threat - if indeed such a time ever comes. I would suggest that such an approach would probably reduce the prison population by some 60% or more as well as saving a great deal of public money, and relieving a great deal of personal misery.