When is simple common sense going to be exercised about the prison population? Most of the characters that are lobbed into jail end up returning. Why? Rather as one goes to hospital with the intent to be fixed of ones ailment and one nurtures a child to enter society fit to not only survive but prosper, so we [society] who imprison offenders should be taking this opportunity, with all the initiatives that our able jailers can muster, to prepare them for successful release. Currently most offenders are almost forced to reoffend, we have inadvertantly designed it that way.
Serious investment in skills training, therapy, and learning social maturity would make huge inroads into the quite obese reoffending rate, There are a number of prisons that have very low reoffending rates-Blantyre House and Grendon for example.
The Government can help themselves and in the long run stop wasting £3billion/pa imprisoning offenders, which currently proves that prison doesnt work.

Adam Hodge, Oxford, UK

Government consists of deterring bad behaviour and rewarding good. We obviously don't have a government.

Brian Gilbert , HAMPTON, Middx

So what if prisoners have to rough it, I would give them no phoes TV or anything else. In my opinion we have to create a mindset that makes them less likley to re-offend.
But the bottom line is that there is no real deterrent, bring back the birch and hanging, and stuff the do-gooders, the interest of the law adiding public should take priority in matters of law. The Judiciary should listen to the British public.

Regards

Ron Massie

Ron Massie, Kintore, Aberdeenshire

Early releases for these offenders is a huge risk. It will only fuel their motivation to commit more serious crimes, subsequently posing more dangers and threats to society at large.

Furthermore, there is no guarantee that upon their release, they can be recaptured for breaking license agreements. This is like releasing a tiger from its cage hoping to catch it back only the next time they turn out to be more daring, ferocious and monstrous.

Phoon, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

i think the decisions about leaving prisoners early is absoultly right. the prisoners who are good bahaviour even though who are newly sent should be out on early ease scheme

meet, hounslow, uk

ikea has now made triple bunk beds im sure we could squeeze 2 of them into a cell
giving us another 30,000 places
simple

michael mckeary, paisley, scotland

The point is now proven......... there is no Rule of Law in this Country

Mike, London,

Great! - It's christmas early for offenders. 25,000 criminals on the loose! - lock up your belongings! Labour - Tough on Crime, except when it comes to punishing criminals!

Peter Causton, Birmingham, UK

As usual, a complete lack of foresight by those in charge to plan for the future -- eh, rapidly increasing population equal increase in prison population -- a 5 year old could work that out. Did we really elect this bunch of incompetents?

Paul Downes, Milton Keynes, Bucks

The answer to more prisoners is more prisons. Letting people out, or not sending them in , is a crime in itself, leading to more crime, once the criminals know that they are not likely to be imprisoned.
As for deportation, why does it take a long time? In many cases deportation should replace prison. There are enough home grown criminals without adding to thestock from other countries. Incidentally, why is crime rising to such levels in this time of prosperity and near full employment? Perhaps we ought to look at that too.

AJ Sheridan, Miami Florida, USA

Typical government mismanagement. They claim to be tough on crime, but without planning for the consequences. They are more likely to lock up a poor pensioner who cannot pay her council tax, whereas the dsingle mother who gets a parking ticket is let off on compassionate grounds. Get real.

James, Sevenoaks, England

I'm not sure how public protection can be argued when prisoners are released just 18 days early. These inmates aren't locked up for public protection but punishment. Why can't we be more imaginative about the sentences given to low level offenders to ensure that they don't reoffend? Even if that means non-custodial sentences?

Louise, London,

The options

Cram more of them into tiny cells.

Capital Punishment.

Dick, London,

25,000 convicted criminals freed early to resume their life of crime. Thanks from someone without so much as a parking ticket.

10,000 foreign nationals in our prisons - why?

edwardingle, chesham,