The Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research has today published a research report by Sarah Armstrong and Beth Weaver which explores what the punished think about their short term prison and community sentences. The researchers spoke with 35 men and women ranging in age from 19 to 55 about their experiences of punishment in Scotland. The aim was to accurately describe the experience for offenders of doing a short sentence, in prison or the community. In summary, the key findings of the report are the following:
• Short prison sentences in Scotland are a form of ‘doing life by instalments’.
• It is the cumulative effect of doing many short sentences, more than the experience of any single sentence, which carries the largely negative impacts of short-term imprisonment.
• The extensive use of short sentences is a function mainly of drug and alcohol dependency.
• Prison has produced positive life changes for some but in a way that is almost impossible to predict.
• Contrary to prior research, nearly everyone would prefer a community-based sentence to a prison sentence.
For further information and to access the report visit http://www.sccjr.ac.uk/pubs/User-Views-of-Punishment-The-comparative-experience-of-short-term-prison-sentences-and-communitybased-punishments/284
Best wishes
Claire
Claire Lightowler
Knowledge Exchange Coordinator
Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research
01786 467716
www.sccjr.ac.uk
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