Loose Women

[Stephen]

Now I don't normally watch this program, but I just happened to switch on when they were debating about prison sentences. Well, I thought it was going to come to blows at one point between Marline whatever her names is and Goofy. I nearly went out and dug up some mud to send round to help the wrestling along. But sadly order was restored

Anyone else see it, and what are your views on prison sentences.

Personally, I don't understand why they call a prison sentence 'life' and then dish out 20 years or often allot less.

[Boris+]

Stephen - I don't understand it either.

Then again - I don't understand it - I thought it was supposed to be punishment, and yet they get proper food, television and no hard labour.

Ok, I'm probably going to be 'heavily criticised' for this - but if someone has done a crime which warrants a life term, then life it should be. That doesn't mean that what I believe is right, doesn't mean it's wrong - it just means that is what I think, and I'm not going to change my mind.

Em

[Dancing Queen]

I don't watch it either so who are Marline and Goofy ??

I do have an opinion about prison sentences which is if someone is given a 20 year sentence then they should serve it, why give it out in the first place to then reduce it for 'good behaviour' if they had behaved themselves in the first place they wouldn't be in prison

The same for someone given 'life' if the crime was serious enough to hand a life sentence out then why should they ever be released, whatever the crime one thing is for sure, as a result someone else's life will have been ruined forever ... sorry but I have no sympathy for criminals I'm very much - lock em up and throw away the key

Better get my tin hat out but I make no apology for my views.

[david63]

I don't have a problem with time off for good behaviour if:

(a) the sentence is long enough in the first place (i.e if the sentence is 20 years then give them 30 years with one third off for good behaviour)
(b) it helps to maintain discipline in the prison.

As for life sentences then there is life which with good behaviour is about eight years and then there is "whole life term" which basically means that you will the outside world again - however the ECHR has stuck its oar in and is trying to ban them (although I do like the suggestion from the Government that they should be given 100 year sentence instead)

[Boris+]

Take the punishment aspect to one side - if somebody is locked up for the rest of their life, then it means that the criminal can't get out into the community and commit another crime.

I suppose there is another aspect to this - and I really don't know the situation, but if a person comes out of prison and can't get a job does that person get benefits? Might it not be better (cheaper for the community) to keep the criminal locked up? If the ex-con gets out of prison and gets benefits then that person is not just going to cost the amount of the benefits to the general community, there's the cost of policing etc if another offence is committed.

Em

[AngieT]

Is Goofy - Janet Street-Porter? Can't stand the woman - she likes to be controversial & wind everyone up. I don't know which side of the arguement she was on but it was probably the minority view.

'Whole Life Terms' are a touchy subject at the moment because prisoners who have no prospect of being released are harder to deal with. They have nothing to lose so the Prison staff can't always keep them in check. Even most Prison Officers will agree that giving someone 'hope' of release makes them think twice before causing trouble in prison. I think they should give them Life with the chance of Parole but secretly decide they never will get Parole. Let them hope in vain - mental cruelty - can't beat it!!!!

[Stephen]

Is Goofy - Janet Street-Porter? Can't stand the woman - she likes to be controversial & wind everyone up. I don't know which side of the arguement she was on but it was probably the minority view.

'Whole Life Terms' are a touchy subject at the moment because prisoners who have no prospect of being released are harder to deal with. They have nothing to lose so the Prison staff can't always keep them in check. Even most Prison Officers will agree that giving someone 'hope' of release makes them think twice before causing trouble in prison. I think they should give them Life with the chance of Parole but secretly decide they never will get Parole. Let them hope in vain - mental cruelty - can't beat it!!!!

Janet Street-Porter, that's the one. Myleen Klass was the other.

[Delboy]

It was on in our home today, because Julian Clary was on and Lorraine likes him.

Cannot stand Janet Street Porter, and Sally Lindsay even more, somebody should tie her hands behind her back, when she is spouting off.

Not too keen on Myleen Class, how can somebody who trained as a classical pianist, joined a pop group which failed, suddenly become a fashion expert. At least she stands up to JSP

Even the host Kaye Adams is not much better.

No I don't have a good memory for names, I had to google to see who was on today's show

As for whole life sentences, according to the BBC, this was what the Judges agreed today

"Under current law, whole-life tariffs can be given for "exceptionally" serious offences. They prevent offenders from ever being eligible for a parole review or release, unless at the discretion of the justice secretary.

In July the ECHR ruled whole-life sentences had to have the possibility of release and, to be compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights, there should be some way of having a sentence reviewed after 25 years.

That ruling followed a successful appeal by convicted murderers Jeremy Bamber, Douglas Vinter and Peter Moore.

In the latest Court of Appeal ruling, the panel of five judges found that the Strasbourg court had been wrong when it reached a conclusion that the law of England and Wales did not clearly provide the possibility that a whole-life prison term could ever be reduced.

They said a power of review arose if there were "exceptional circumstances" whereby the offender could appeal to the secretary of state.

"In our judgement the law of England and Wales therefore does provide to an offender 'hope' or the 'possibility' of release in exceptional circumstances which render the just punishment originally imposed no longer justifiable," Lord Chief Justice Lord Thomas said.

Lord Thomas said some crimes were "so heinous" that Parliament was entitled to allow whole-life orders "entirely compatibly" with the European Convention on Human Rights.

"Judges should therefore continue as they have done to impose whole-life orders in those rare and exceptional cases," he said."

[Jean W]

Ditto Delboy!

[Jean W]

I obviously didn't read the whole of Delboy's post. My comment referred to the Loose Women panel. I will now read the rest of his post