January 14, 2005
Crime is down, but there are more criminals somehow
So now Judges should avoid jailing criminals if prisons are considered overcrowded. Colour me surprised.
I wonder what other solutions might be available other than the swapping of a prison sentence with a community sentence, fine or motor sport day trip? Perhaps someone in the building trade might have an answer?
More interesting is the following little snippet:
The jail population at present is 73,085 but longer-term projections expect it to be between 93,000 and 109,000 by 2009.I thought that the government said that crime was down and that we were just scaring ourselves rather than being scared of any actual, you know, real life crime.
Less crime, more criminals. I'm not good at statistics so someone help me please but does this not mean that one or more of the following are true:
1. Criminals are generally being given longer sentences for the usual crimes.
2. More serious crimes are being committed hence longer sentences.
3. There are more criminals but less crime because each criminal is now committing fewer offences.
4. Something to do with a general increase in the population (stop having criminal babies, ok).
5. Someone is telling porkies.
