The problem with the judicial system in this country, is that there are too many inconsistencies and flaws. For example, life sentences for murder should mean that criminals spend the rest of their lives in prison, instead of being eligible for parole after 15 years.

Even for less serious crimes, such as burgulary and assault, by giving the criminals a mere 'slap on the wrist', it is not going to reassure the general public that they are now good honest citizens. The whole concept of prison is to put offenders behind bars so that they can reform and thus when they are freed, they can have a positive impact on the community that they live.

Saying sorry is not enough. Fundamentally, what I am saying is that drastic action needs to be taken in the courts, so that the families of victims are treated like 'first class' citizens and get the justice they fully deserve.

Charles Perrin, London, UK

I couldn't agree more with Cherie Booth that, "Jail does not alter their attitudes and behaviour." I just dont think that apologising is going to solve the problem.

I am afraid that this is just another sign of how our society has progressed. Taking the side of criminals is just not in my rule book.

As far as the crime hurting the victim and the criminal not knowing how it feels. I doubt the criminal cares either way otherwise the crime wouldn't had been commited in the first place.

Besides an apology Ms Booth, why not add a "Great Big Hug" too. I am sure everyone will feel much better.

Ron B, San Diego, California, USA

Your contributor, Uche George, I feel actually misses thepoint. Restorative Justice , as currently used, is not an alternative to punitive justice, but complementary to it. As an RJ practitioner of 8 years experience some of the meetings that I have facilitated have been held within the secure estate. The offender has had nothing to gain in terms of reduction in sentence However the realisation that their behaviour has been selfish, self-centred, perhaps motivated by greed, is a real gain for them. For the first time ever the crime they have commited is "personal" and not covered by "insurance". For the first time they have understood the impact oftheir offending on their victims. This is the thing that will keep them going straight because, unlike punitive CJ, RJ requires offenders to take responsibility . Cj expects only that they take the punishment. What I know about prison and the CJ system is that they are full of people who are repeat offenders - so clearly it isn't working

cxhristine Dale, Colchester, Essex

I am in agreement with the comments made by B.P.Russell. What we need is more prisons that are harder on the inmates, no fancy goods, basic accomodation. Maybe then they would think twice about commiting further crimes.

The inmates should be made to do work in the community like chain gangs in America.
This society that we live in has become to soft and the sentences given not HARD enough. Anyone who is given a custodial sentence should not expect a Holiday camp.

Gary Driver, Wickford, Essex

It would be lot nicer if they were 'banged up' for a long time. Prison is not for TV and reading, it is punishment to disuade future bad behavior. When they get out,if, then help them get jobs etc. There is sherrif in New Mexico who leeps prisoners in pink overalls, feeds them baloney sandwiches, the only TV is the Disney Channel. He also keeps them in tents. 'If it is good enough for our soldiers, it's good enough for my prisoners'.. The rate of recidivism is really low!!!!

Desmond Taylor, Houston, USA Texas

People calling for community sentences and restorative justice justice miss the point, The reoffending rates for those on community sentences versus those in prison is virtually the same , give or take 5%. Also prison is supposssed to be punitive as well as rehabilitative, what commnetators like theLord Chief Justice and Cherie Blair do is constantly is ignore the punitive fpurpose of prison , and the fact that the general public and their possessions are generaly sfarer while offenders are locked up. It's not that Cherie blair and the LCJ don't live in the real world . It's that they refuse to admit that people are responsible for their decisions and the consequences of their actions, , People don't re offend because the failure of a prison system, but because they are too angry, selfish, or greedy to want to stop.

Uche George , London , UK

As long as we have prisons like Altcourse in Fazakerly, imprisnment will remain a joke. By the way, the nick-name for Altcourse is The Fazakerly Hotel.

David Conlin, Liverpool, Merseyside

It is very rare that victims get a chance to tell a criminal what effect the crime has had on their life.

The court process ignores the pain and suffering that victims feel by trying to remove all emotion from the proceedings. Restorative justice is about letting the victim say how they've been affected - letting them rant and scream at the criminal, if they want.

It's nothing to do with punishment - you can be in favour of restorative justice *and* the death penalty. Until the victim gets to speak, our court process ignores the one certainty - the crime has hurt the victim and the criminal won't know how it feels.

R Corfield, London, UK

Of course offenders and victims should be given the opportunity to meet face to face, if both agree. Institutional responses, such as sending people to prison, otherwise have little value in terms of encouraging people to reflect on their actions and see the real-life consequences of their crimes. A thoughtful, empathic stance is surely something we should all strive for in a good society, and something we should facilitate in those whose actions imply that it has been lacking. It does not have to be an 'either/or' choice between custodial sentences and restorative justice; they can be used together with great value. Such meetings have been held with powerful results (for both perpetrators, victims and society more generally) in South Africa in the Truth and Reconciliation process following the crimes of the apartheid era (see the recent book "A Human Being Died That Night: Confronting Apartheid's Chief Killer"
by Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela, with a preface by Nelson Mandela).

Dr Celia Sadie, London,

If I had been assaulted, raped, or robbed, the last thing I would wish to do would be to meet the toerag responsible.
Unfortunately saying sorry won't take back the crime, and would be used as a ploy to get a lighter sentence.
Cherie Blair doesn't live in the real world. If she had to walk through a sink estate at night alone, or barricade her doors, and put wire grids over the windows to keep the yobs from gaining entrance, she might be singing from a different hymn sheet.
Jail sentences should be tougher, and longer to discourage re-offending. Education should be compulsory to under 21 year old prisoners. The rest of the time they should work for their keep. Put them out on chain gangs repairing our shoddy roads like they do in the USA. No TV. No Playstations. Nothing fancy. Just basic accommodation and basic food.
Sorry this isn't politically correct. I don't do PC. I do CS - Common Sense.

B.P.Russell, Windsor, England

Criminals often do not have a sense of right and wrong, and therefore "saying sorry" to order will have little effect. Even polititians, who I assume have sound core values, don't say sorry when they get it wrong. Leave apologies for the folks who really mean it.

Brian Lucas, Ventnor IOW, Uk

Is Tony Blair going to apologise along with George Bush for bringing an unbelievable amount of death and suffering to the poor people of Iraq. I think not.

Graham Wharton, St Albans,

Prison DOES work. It's when the offenders are let out of prison that things start to go wrong....

John Tomlinson, Brentwood, UK

It is time this government built more prisons to house criminals and that prisoners served proper sentences. The public needs to be protected and saying "sorry" is an absolutely ridiculous idea - but what more can we expect from Cherie Blair and any other person in this ludicrous government?

K Law, Leicester, UK

The idea of prison is to take people who are committing crimes out of society. Contrary to other posts, this means it works. Being out of society is their punishment, where they have plenty of time to reflect on their actions. These people are adults, they know what they did was wrong, they don't need a bunch of prison social workers to tell them this.
What they need is a proper deterrent that will make them think twice before they commit a crime.
There should however be compulsory education in all prisons to drag the education standard of the average prisoner up to a decent level. This should be instead of television and all the other current liberal 'rehabilitation' methods em[ployed.

David Thijm, Stourbridge, UK

These criminals are not children and should therefore be made to endure a punishment fit for purpose. Build more prisons, make sentences tougher and longer, bring in hard labour and ensure that the consequences far out weighs the crime.

Mr A Barnett, london,

How many would not have the courage to report a crime if they knew they would have to face the,often violent, offender later? Probably me for one. Coming from the Blair camp I am not surprised at the idea. It's crazy enough.

David Cage, Highworth, UK

Prison doesn`t work : You only have to look at the reoffending rate to prove that. I believe in restorative justice and non custodial sentences. They say sentencing should have 3 aims :- Retribution, deterrence and rehabilitation.
I believe these 3 aims are better served by non custodial sentences that teach and rehabilitate the offender. Sentences should teach and correct behaviour, right the wrong, not replicate it like prison is only doing at the moment.

Jo Sullivan, Liverpool, Merseyside