Custodial Sentencing

• Strength of custodial sentencing

  • Rehabilitative value through opportunities for training and treatment
  • Many offenders access education and training whilst in prison, increasing the possibility they will find employment upon release
• Offenders who take part in college education are 43% less likely to reoffend following release
• Prisons who offer these programmes report fewer incidents of violence
• Custodial sentencing


  An effective way to deal with offenders by enabling them to lead a crime-free life when back in society
• Custodial sentencing


  Reduces rates of recidivism in the long term
• Limitation of custodial sentencing

  • Negatively influences rates of recidivism due to exposure to other criminals
  • Offenders will learn new techniques from more experienced offenders, motivating them to implement the new skills they have learned on their release
  • Custodial sentencing presents opportunities for offenders to widen their criminal network and become more familiar with ways to evade being caught
• Custodial sentencing may increase rates of recidivism rather than decreasing them
• In 2016, a record 119 people killed themselves in prisons in England and Wales, which was an increase of 23% on the previous year
• The suicide rate in prisons is 9 times higher than in the general population
• 25% of women and 15% of men in prison reported symptoms of psychosis
• Custodial sentencing


  Can be seen as unethical and ineffective as prisoners are not protected from psychological harm, making it an inappropriate way to deal with offending behaviour