WOMEN PRISONS - EMAILS

A reform group is calling for women prisons to be "virtually abolished".
The Howard League for Penal Reform says women should only be jailed for
violent or serious offences, because they suffer disproportionately in
prison.


It says the three-fold rise in female prisoners since 1993 is unacceptable
and jail should be reserved for those who commit serious or violent offences
and remain a danger to the public.

We asked you what you think.

Thank you for your views. Here is a selection:

What is the UK coming to? If you commit a crime then you suffer the
consequences regardless of gender. If a crime would normally incur a prison
sentence for a man, then the same should apply to women.
Nick Trimming, Switzerland

If you break a law which carries a custodial sentence then you should go to
prison. That's what laws are for. That's why law abiding citizens are free
and criminals are locked up. Male or female, break the law = go to prison.
Alan, Portsmouth



If women (or men or young people) do not want to go to prison because it
would cause them suffering, they should not comit crimes. I'm 40 years old,
have never been in trouble with the authorities, and intend to continue
"keeping my nose clean" as I have no wish to end up in prison. As far as I
am concerned most prison sentances are not long enough and prisons are too
soft. They should be a place of punishment not an easy life.
Gill

There are far too many women being jailed for minor offences which could be
dealt with by the courts by giving them community service. This way they
would be putting back something into the community and saving tax payers
money. Only if women re-offend should a prison term be considered. All
serious and violent crimes should be dealt with harshly and longer terms
given so that they will not be tempted to re-offend.
Angela Cormack, Morden

For many years now, women have fought extensively on all fronts for
equality. Why should prison be any different? If you do the crime then you
should do the time.
Robert in Norway

They should be treated as equal human beings - i.e. if you commit a
custodial offence then you go to jail. However this implies that many more
people are being jailed than there used to be so maybe we need to look at
why there are more motorists in jail than burglars, and why jail seems to be
an ineffective deterrent.
Jaime, London

The essense of starting up a prison system is to reform people. The present
day prison is designed to favour men. The present day prison system harden
or destroy women. These days prison has become a breeding ground for
criminals, we use it to keep criminals from disturbing public peace and not
to reform them. I am a man and I know that most women in jail live like men.
Let's look for other alternatives for non-violent offence.
Tutu Olutayo, Gothenburgh

What should we do... let them of with murder just because they are women? Do
the crime, do the time!
Dave Finlay, Houston

Women go to prison, the same as men, if they commit an offence that carries
a custodial sentence. If they do this, then they deserve to be jailed.
Dave, Colchester

What a sexist suggestion! If women want equality,they have to put up with
the bad as well as the good. So if they commit a drime which carries a
prison sentence then it is inexcusable for them to get off because of
gender.
Mark Solomon, Alicante, Spain

I can't believe anyone would even think that women should be treated any
less harshly than men when it comes to punishment. How, exactly, do they
suffer any more by being in prison? It's just going to send out the message
that it's ok to commit a non-serious crime if you are a woman and women will
start to be exploited by men to do crimes for them because they will get
away with it.
Helen, Gloucester

Nice idea - next time I fancy committing a crime I'll just get a woman to do
to for me. Sorted!
Andy Jackson, Notts.

If you commit a crime you should do the time irrelevant of age, gender,
ethnicity etc. The prison system does need reform, but it doesn't need more
discrimination.
Christopher Knell, London

If women don't want to get punished like their male counterparts then maybe
they won't mind losing the right to vote or some of the other equal
opportunities that their feminist counterparts have fought so hard to gain
over the years.
Stuart Robertson, New York

If I commit a crime I should not go to prison because:
a) I have brown hair
b) I have blue eyes
c) I'm only 5' 7"
d) (insert here your own particular perceived inferiority, disability,
disadvantage or other excuses)
Stuart, Kidderminster

An offence does not discriminate against any one particular gender. If a
woman committed an identical crime to a male how can the law remain
impartial and unambiguous if only the male was sent down for it? It is all
well and good analysing various aspects of the penal system, but inevitably
the law is in place for a reason to safeguard the rights and privileges of
law abiding individuals.
Gary Mellor, Walsall

Women fought for equality so they should get it!
Andy, Birmingham

http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30100-1173804,00.html


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