Community Service or Prison?

[paul_601]

Following on from Clare's question about Community Service ...

In a situation where you could send somebody to prison for 3 -6 months or give them 200 hours community service which do you think is better? I've got both for different things and think that they should give more community service.

I got sent down for 6 months for drivimg offences including being over the limit. I was out on license and got a hard judge who wouldn't look at community service for it. So basically I lost a job, ending up wasting extra months in prison and costing the state money. If he had given community service I would still be working and paying tax and then doing something useful for the community.

I was in prison first time for assault and could sort of understand that but the second time it seemed a waste.

[sweetsal]

for driving drunk... i don't think 6 months is enough if you didn't learn your lesson. If you kill someone they will not come back alive in 6 months. If you learned your lesson than good enough

[Gary L]

You can't seem to obey the simple rules that the rest of us mugs adhere to.

You were put into prison for an assault (or assaults). i don't know the circumstances but assault means violence was used. It was right to put you away.

You commited driving offences (note offences, not offence) whilst out on licence! I would have thought that just maybe that meant that you are supposed to stay within the law, at least until your licence expired.

One of those offences was for being over the limit (you do not say how much over). If you want to know why you were sent down again, talk to a family who have lost a loved one because of a pissed up driver & you might then know.

My only argument is that as far as I am concerned we ought to have more prison places & that prisoners should serve the entire sentence given. Then you would not have been able to offend again whilst out on licence.

Sorry, I have no sympathy & given your record you would probably have offended whilst carrying out your community service. My only advice? Try going straight mate.

[Aphrodite]

You were sent to prison the second time because of your crime of assault the first time. To the judge, you are a repeat offender, regardless what specifically the crime is. its still a crime against the state. That is why my friend, you went to jail.

[Scouse]

I think the general inconvenience of community service will underline the error of the way of a very petty criminal such as yourself. it is said by those who claim to know that short prison sentences are a waste of time and cost more than a stay at the poshest London hotel you can think.

Therefore community service of a positive nature could well straighten some out whilst they are working in their normal job . or if they are out of work may give some a purpose they do not already have .

In many ways if that punishment or correction is of a positive nature, a sign that it works would be twofold.
1. No repeat offence
2. At the end of the compulsory period the ex-offender makes time to carry on with the jobs in hand.

Sadly I have not heard of the second happening and in some cases I think the first is wishful thinking

However I think community service properly administered on the ground has the best chance of shall we say redemption and short prison sentences the least

Actually I have little sympathy with you in this case because a community service order would be a sign that you have got away with it

[Ken D]

It may have seemed a waste of time going to prison for the second time but if you think about it what a waste of time committing the crime in the first place, why ruin your entire life because of criminal records, remember most employers will ask for a search in your criminal past and there will be a day when you really want a particular job really bad and you would have blown it.

[dlk]

Depends on the crime and the criminal.

[Rommel]

your right!! its ridiculous....we should end comunity service and out source our prison service to Afghanistan where your human rights will be ignored and trash like you can get exactly what they deserve at half!! the cost to the tax payer. about the only usefull thing you can do for society would be no1 stop breeding, and no2 go live some where else.