Disappointment as Labour and Tories reject better criminal sentencing

19 November 2009

As Labour and Tory MSPs worked together to block proposals to replace short criminal sentences that don't work with effective community sentences that would cut re-offending rates Scottish Liberal Democrat Liberal Democrat Justice spokesperson Robert Brown MSP comment: "It's disappointing that Labour and the Tories are not prepared to recognise the total failure of short term prison sentences in helping to reduce crime in Scotland.

"Liberal Democrats have long argued that better results are attained at much less public cost by good quality, speedy and effective community sentences. The Scottish Government must put appropriate resources into community sentences to make sure that they are effective, because it is vital that the public have confidence in these sentences as an alternative to prison.

"74% of those released from short term prison sentences go on to offend again within two years, compared to around 40% for those on community sentences. It is quite inexplicable with those figures that the Labour and Conservative parties should want to impose a burden of around £40,000 a year per prisoner on the taxpayer for a sentence that many people believe is often just a college for criminals."