Hard Time for Hard Crimes

[smitchy2]

As I understand it the conviction rate for Limerick gangland murders is relatively high - convictions aren't the problem - it is stopping the murders from happening in the first place. Getting caught and doing time doesn't appear to be a sufficient deterrent.

There is no alternative in this country other than doing time.

[Gimpanzee]

There is no alternative in this country other than doing time.

No sh!t sherlock.

[Bobert]

I think there is a need for a new prison facility into which those criminals who have committed violence crimes without remorse and for profit should be detained. Those who are genuinely seeking rehabilitation should continue to be facilitated within the existing prison system but the state needs to have a facility at its disposal which is about doing hard time.

Ok Kane, how do we distinguish between the two?

[ajcahill]

Any source for that 20% figure? Sounds ridiculously high. Particularly given that the sentences for non-payment of fines would be so short relative to other offences that the vast majority of people who go to prison in any given year would have to be there for non-payment of fines.

Here is the link Prison Statistics - Criminal Justice System Statistics - National Crime Council see table 3, the figure for 2006 was 22% with a further 25% for road traffic offences

[Gimpanzee]

Here is the link Prison Statistics - Criminal Justice System Statistics - National Crime Council see table 3, the figure for 2006 was 22% with a further 25% for road traffic offences

22% of the number of people sent to prison in 2006 for not paying fines is completely different to saying that 20% of the people in prison are there for not paying fines. See tables 5 and 6. It would be a fraction of that.

But that said ...22% of the number of people sent to prison in 2006 is still way higher than I would have ever guessed.