effective

• why are non custodial sentences effective - reduce reoffending

  Electronic tags are a good way of reducing reoffending as if you have a job you can still go but are punished with a curfew at night. Many prisons don’t have enough staff or money to run effective rehabilitation programmes which means that some offenders are released with the same addictions they had when they went in to prison. For example, in 2019 the Scottish Government put plans in place to restrict courts from sending offenders to prison for less than 12 months suggesting community sentences were more positive.
• why are non custodial sentences effective - pays back to the community

  This could involve painting a children’s playground which makes the offender feel they have done something good that others will benefit from. This can change the negative feelings many offenders have and give them back some pride and self-esteem which will make them less likely to commit another crime. For example, community services may be given for non violent crimes such as theft or fraud
• why are non custodial sentences effective - prevents overcrowding

  This means that the Scottish prison population is continuing to increase which has lead to a lack of staff and a strain on resources and rehabilitation to

  support offenders. As community sentences allow offenders to be in contact with relatives and friends, this could help to reduce reoffending and prevent people from becoming hardened criminals For example, HMP Barlinnie is operating at 140% capacity so alternatives could allow the most hardened criminals to be given the time and attention required to transform their lives.