Isle of Man criminal justice system 'to reach 21st Century'
Nov 02, 2012
from the article on BBC News:
Home Affairs Minister Juan Watterson said "languishing in prison cells" was not a good way for inmates to "pay their debt to society".
....One of the key areas under scrutiny is dealing with offenders after they have served their jail term.
"We already have community service but we could do more things around restorative justice, actually putting back what you have done wrong rather than low level beach cleans for example, which is what we have now," continued Mr Watterson.
Restorative justice, an alternative to the traditional processes of arrest and punishment, is based on three basic principles.
The offender acknowledges they have done wrong, works to put it right, and is then reintegrated into society.
The total cost of the Isle of Man's criminal justice system is almost £15m a year and more than £7m of that expenditure goes on the prison service.
But the proposed changes are not just about saving money, Mr Watterson said.
"[Up to] 80% of the prison's costs are fixed costs anyway, so the savings to be had in this area aren't significant," he said.
"But, it's about building a better society where we can turn people around so they can see the error of their ways and choosing to take a different path in life rather than just locking them up, letting them mix with criminals and then coming back out to try out the new techniques they have learned inside to use."
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