Short Prison Sentences

Why a short sentence can mean lifelong impact

Even a short prison sentence can blow up someone’s life so when they do come out of prison they need to start again, find a new job and home. This makes it so much hard to address the reasons behind their offending. Women disproportionately receive shorter sentences which can be even more devastating as often they have children, meaning they need to be taken into care. Every year 17,000 children are affected by their mother being in prison.

Why we should end ineffective short prison sentences 

This isn’t about being ‘soft’ on crime, this is about following the evidence of what works and ensuring fewer future victims. We know that short prison sentences result in higher rates of reoffending than community sentences. Sending people to prison for a few months at a time for non-violent offences without ever addressing the reasons behind their offending does nothing to reduce crime, and simply traps people in a revolving door of prison. As a prison place cost over £50,000 a year, sending people to prison that do not need to be there is also a waste of money.

What Nacro are calling for

Nacro want to see a presumption against short sentences in the upcoming sentencing bill, meaning community sentences will be given in place of sentences of less than 12 months. We want to see more money and resources put into early intervention work with people at risk of committing crime, as well as properly funded support services to help people with their mental health and substance misuse issues, key drivers of low-level offending.

End short sentences, reduce the prison population 

Ending short sentences will no only reduce reoffending it will free up vital space in prison, giving the justice system breathing space to process people accused of more serious crime. Victims and society as a whole need a properly functioning justice system, ending short sentences is one step towards this goal.