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Prison Governors' Association right to call for end to short prison sentences (6 October 2009)

Commenting on the Prison Governors' Association's call to abolish prison sentences of less than a year, Jon Collins, Campaign Director for the Criminal Justice Alliance, said:

'Since 1997 the Government has comprehensively failed to get a grip on prison policy, resulting in early release, prison overcrowding and high rates of reoffending. Prison governors have to deal with the results of this mismanagement on a daily basis, and recognise the need for a new approach.

'Prisoners on short sentences are warehoused in overcrowded prisons, doing little or nothing to tackle the causes of their offending. Much more could be done in the community to ensure that they turn their lives around, freeing up space in prisons to manage those people who do need to be there.

'Radical action is now needed to reduce the use of prison. The Government and opposition parties should develop a new approach to criminal justice policy that combines reducing the use of prison with investment in properly-funded alternatives in the community.'