4 ms·

I didn’t understand it as well (not from the UK, but US), so I had to lookup the gist of it in Wikipedia. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imprisonment_for_publ

by xyst 2y ago

I didn’t understand it as well (not from the UK, but US), so I had to lookup the gist of it in Wikipedia. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imprisonment_for_public_protection https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imprisonment_for_public_prot... Basically, the “18 month sentence” is a minimum sentence for the crime(s). But after that period, a parole board is supposed to rule on whether this person is fit to rejoin society. What I don’t understand: - are parole boards just denying for any reason? Why are people serving such long sentences? - is it a backlog of cases to review to blame? - or is this similar to “cash for kids” scandal in the US? Basically, teenagers were sentenced harshly under the pretense of “zero tolerance” and sent to prison. But, in reality it was motivated primarily by the need for private prison systems to fill the cells and many judges getting kickbacks.

crooked-v 2y ago
The onus is put on the prisoner to show they will successfully reintegrate into society, rather than on the parole board to show they will not. Of course, I'm sure the guidance or help given to said prisoner is nonexistent.
consteval 2y ago
> are parole boards just denying for any reason? Why are people serving such long sentences? Yes. There's guidelines for parole but they're just guides. Personal bias, as well as potential monetary values, keep prisoners in prison. For example, Georgia, based on statistics, should have a parole rate of 80% for non-violent offenders. The parole rate is 8%. This is for non-violent offenders. That's an order of magnitude of difference. The culture around parole and personal biases fuel this. Ultimately, the community and parole judge can only LOSE by allowing parole. In the best-case scenario, they break even - nothing bad happens if you let someone loose. In the worst case, they commit a crime. They're heavily biased to preserve the interests of themselves, the prisons, and their community. The well-being of the prisoner is least important because they are a criminal. > motivated primarily by the need for private prison systems to fill the cells and many judges getting kickbacks There's some of this as well. Some of these prisoners in (again, Georgia) are being coerced to work. Parole is a carrot above their head. They're paid less than minimum wage to literally flip burgers at McDonald's. It's a win-win situation for everyone involved. The prison makes money (garnishes half the wages), local shops get cheap labor, and "dangerous" people are kept locked up. Only the prisoners lose.

by xyst 2y ago

crooked-v 2y ago

The onus is put on the prisoner to show they will successfully reintegrate into society, rather than on the parole board to show they will not. Of course, I'm sure the guidance or help given to said prisoner is nonexistent.

consteval 2y ago

> are parole boards just denying for any reason? Why are people serving such long sentences? Yes. There's guidelines for parole but they're just guides. Personal bias, as well as potential monetary values, keep prisoners in prison. For example, Georgia, based on statistics, should have a parole rate of 80% for non-violent offenders. The parole rate is 8%. This is for non-violent offenders. That's an order of magnitude of difference. The culture around parole and personal biases fuel this. Ultimately, the community and parole judge can only LOSE by allowing parole. In the best-case scenario, they break even - nothing bad happens if you let someone loose. In the worst case, they commit a crime. They're heavily biased to preserve the interests of themselves, the prisons, and their community. The well-being of the prisoner is least important because they are a criminal. > motivated primarily by the need for private prison systems to fill the cells and many judges getting kickbacks There's some of this as well. Some of these prisoners in (again, Georgia) are being coerced to work. Parole is a carrot above their head. They're paid less than minimum wage to literally flip burgers at McDonald's. It's a win-win situation for everyone involved. The prison makes money (garnishes half the wages), local shops get cheap labor, and "dangerous" people are kept locked up. Only the prisoners lose.