Keep 'em off the streets and behind bars: tough prison sentences mean a safer society
b'Lock them up. That\\u2019s the way we\\u2019ve always dealt with offenders. Criminals deserve to be put away for their crimes. Prison works because it keeps those criminals out of circulation, and acts as society\\u2019s most effective deterrent. Rehabilitation is all well and good \\u2013 but the fundamental purpose of prison is to protect the public, and to punish those who have done wrong.\\n\\nThat\\u2019s the argument of the bang \\u2019em up brigade; but others say that there\\u2019s a better way. New prison models have emerged in several European countries that suggest it\\u2019s not incarceration alone that prisoners need \\u2013 it\\u2019s treatment for drug, alcohol, social and mental health issues. Norway, for example, has a ratio of almost one prison worker per inmate to help them overcome these problems. This system isn\\u2019t simply humane, say its advocates, it\\u2019s good for society. In England and Wales, 47% of inmates reoffend within a year of leaving prison. In Norway, by contrast, only 20% do. Its prison system works because it treats inmates as human... Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/intelligencesquared.\\n \\n\\xa0See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.\\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices'