"Stop jailing for short periods", they say.
I totally disagree. It's the initial impact which is enormous; long termers get used to it very quickly. I say cut the length of sentences and increase rehabilitation.

It depends what they believe the purpose of prisons to be. If they see it as a place to detain people who are a serious danger to the public then I can understand about finding alternatives to short sentences while focusing on protecting society from those who pose the greater threat. They should certainly not send people to jail for non payment of the TV licence or Council Tax or for feeding birds, etc. and maybe alternatives could be found for those who suffering from some sort of addiction.

If prison is seen merely as a punishment then I can understand your point, JK. But I think that as a society we should have progressed beyond that by now.

I definitely believe rehabilitation is the way and non-prison terms wherever possible..genuine community service and such.

NSW currently has a hopeless 'get tough' Attorney Generel who has revoked so many bail terms that the jails are packed with people -especially young people , most who end up with no sentence, a bond or are found innocent.

Now a study is showing that at least half those people are losing their jobs, homes all sorts of things. Absolutely useless as a deterence and sets them back years and probably embitters so many.

But when a politician is on the make..look out !