Alternatives to prison are not effective

• One argument that non-custodial sentences are not effective is because tags are unreliable. The offender may serve their sentence but at home under certain curfew conditions. This could be that they have stayed within a specific address for around 12 hours every night and this is monitored by an "electronic tag" unless they break the tag. For example, James Wright has been put on HDC after having been found carrying a knife but went on to murder a father of 3 in Paisley after breaking his tag 6 months before.
• Another argument that non-custodial sentences are not effective is because people can still commit crime. Community Payback Order can still commit crimes. Offenders are ordered to carry out up to 300 hours of community service - "paying back" to a community they might have damaged which might involve repairing damage or cleaning up an area but it leaves offenders free to commit more crimes. For example, Mark McLean was put on a CPO in 2020 for racist assault which he did while already on a CPO.
• A final argument that non-custodial sentences are not effective is because they can be accused of being ' too soft'. An ASBO bans the offender (over the age of 12) from causing disruption. Can be issued for crimes such as graffiti, playing loud music, littering. For example, Michael O' Rourke has had a order against him since playing Dolly Parton too loudly in Peterhead however he ignored it and had be to be sent to prison.