Imprisonment

• What are the 3 types of prison sentences?

  1. life
  2. determinate
  3. suspended
• Whats a life sentence?

  The most serious punishment a UK court can distribute. The judge sets a minimun time before the prisoner can be considered by the parole board. The board must re assess their danger a decide whether their release and safe and suitable. If so, they'll be released on a licence with conditions they must follow, supervised by the probation service. If they break the licence, they'll be recalled back to prison.
• What are mandatory life sentences?

  A life sentence given to offenders who are found guilty of murder. Discretionary life sentences can also be given for other crimes such as rape.
• Whats a life term sentence?


  A life sentence in which the crime committed is so severe that they'll never be released.
• What are indeterminate sentences?

  Minimun time an offender must stay in prison. They have no automatic life to be released, they must be considered by the parole board.
• How many indeterminate sentences were served in 2018?

  10,000, 14% of the prison population
• What did the law in 2003 do for IPP prisoners?

  Allowed them to continually be detained if they were too dangerous for society.
• When were IPPs deemed unlawful?

  2012
• How many IPP prisoners in 2019?

  2,200
• Whats a determinate sentence?

  A prison sentence with a fixed length, not all of it has to be served in prison.
• Whats the rules for determinate sentences?

  1. Under 12 month sentence = offender normally released halfway through
  2. 12 months or more = usually half in prison, half on licence
  3. More than 2 years = must have post-sentence supervision for 12 months with regular probation officer meeitngs
• What are suspended sentences?

  An offender is given a sentence but is not expected to attend prison directly. This is usually for a sentence under 12 months and can be suspended for up to 2 years. The courts may also impose requirements such as probation or drug addiction treatment.
• In 2019, how many offenders received a suspended prison sentence?

  15%
• Does imprisonment meet retribution aims?

  Prison punishes people by removing their freedom, which society can view as revenge. However, it's difficult to measure whether it's proportionate to the crime, so in some cases, society may not believe they're getting their 'just desserts'
• Does imprisonment meet deterrence aims?

  General -the risk of being sent to prison can deter would-be offenders from committing crimes.

  Individual - prevents offenders from committing crimes again due to the loss of freedom and unfavourable conditions.

  However, high reoffending rates show it's not an effective individual deterrent. (half adult prisoners recidivate within a year)

  So, it only works if offenders are capable of thinking rationally as many offences are committed under the influence of drugs.
• Does imprisonment meet public protection aims?

  As it takes offenders out of circulation, it is. Indeterminate sentences keep offenders in jail as long as they remain dangerous. However, in jail, they can still harm themselves, other inmates and staff. This can also make prisons a 'school of crime' as well as increasing the costs.
• Does imprisonment meet reparation aims?

  Under the Prisoners' Earnings Act 2011, prisoners can work outside the prison and pay a proportion of their earnings to victim support. This forces them to take responsibility for their actions. But in general, it doesn't meet reparation aims.
• Does imprisonment meet rehabilitation aims?

  Despite this being a goal in prisoners, recidivism rates are still high. Records suggest 48% of prisoners reoffend within a year if release. For sentences less then 12 months = 64% and 6,780 prisoners were recalled on their licence in 2019.

  Short sentences provide less time for rehabilitation to occur because they're in prison for less time.

  In longer sentences, prisoners can be provided with education opportunities and mental health programmes to manage their behaviours. However, due to lack of funding, not all prisoners are provided with this.