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Centre for Social Justice right to call short prison sentences "farcical" (2 November 2009)

Commenting on the Centre for Social Justice's report on sentencing and the courts, Jon Collins, Campaign Director at the Criminal Justice Alliance, said:

'This important report describes a criminal justice system in total chaos. The Government's approach to sentencing policy has failed, resulting in early release, prison overcrowding and high rates of reoffending.

'The report is right to call short prison sentences "farcical". Echoing the Prison Governors' Association's recent call to abolish prison sentences of less than a year, this report demonstrates the growing consensus that short prison sentences should be scrapped. Less use of prison, treatment for addicts and strengthening the probation service would reduce crime and save money. So what is the Government waiting for?

'Abolishing short prison sentences should be the first step in radically reforming the criminal justice system. We need a new approach to criminal justice policy that combines reducing the use of prison with investment in properly-funded alternatives in the community.'