Community Service Chain Gangs
posted by Bob Clasen (who else)
By Matthew Jones
LONDON (Reuters) - British youngsters convicted of crimes that do not carry a jail term could be made to wear U.S.-style "chain-gang" uniforms when they perform community service sentences.
Home Office minister Hazel Blears outlined plans for young offenders to be identifiable when doing community service because she said the public needs to see criminals punished.
"People feel very strongly that they don't often see justice being done," Blears told Sunday's Observer newspaper.
"I would like to see a very quick connection to community punishment, that people see being done. I want them to be identified."
Community sentences typically involve activities such as picking up litter or removing graffiti. The sentences are usually given to offenders convicted of non-violent crimes, such as vandalism or driving without insurance.
Blears' comments come only days after Prime Minister Tony Blair made a crack-down on yobbish anti-social behaviour a key theme to his third term in office.
On Thursday, Blair said he supported a decision by one of Britain's largest shopping centres to ban youths wearing the so-called "urban crime uniform" of baseball caps and hooded tops which conceal wearers' faces.
Blears' proposals prompted protest from civil liberty groups and some criminal justice professionals.
"People won't show respect if they are treated in a demeaning manner," Doug Jewell of Liberty told Reuters.
"Putting people in uniforms may look like you are being tough, but it actually legitimises this kind of anti-social behaviour. Some people will see the uniforms as a badge of honour," he added.
Harry Fletcher, assistant general secretary of the probation union NAPO, said such a scheme could backfire and actually increase crime.
"There is no evidence from the U.S. or from Britain that going down the road of uniforms or naming and shaming will impact on crime," he told BBC television.
"The suggestion is that the reverse is the case, you will have more crime not less."
Geoff Hoon, the government's leader in the House of Commons said it was right that Blears was triggering debate.
"Community service has actually been very successful ... but there is a sense that it is an easy ride," he told Sky News.
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2005-05-15T161501Z_01_MOL554241_RTRUKOC_0_CRIME-BRITAIN-UNIFORMS.xml
By Matthew Jones
LONDON (Reuters) - British youngsters convicted of crimes that do not carry a jail term could be made to wear U.S.-style "chain-gang" uniforms when they perform community service sentences.
Home Office minister Hazel Blears outlined plans for young offenders to be identifiable when doing community service because she said the public needs to see criminals punished.
"People feel very strongly that they don't often see justice being done," Blears told Sunday's Observer newspaper.
"I would like to see a very quick connection to community punishment, that people see being done. I want them to be identified."
Community sentences typically involve activities such as picking up litter or removing graffiti. The sentences are usually given to offenders convicted of non-violent crimes, such as vandalism or driving without insurance.
Blears' comments come only days after Prime Minister Tony Blair made a crack-down on yobbish anti-social behaviour a key theme to his third term in office.
On Thursday, Blair said he supported a decision by one of Britain's largest shopping centres to ban youths wearing the so-called "urban crime uniform" of baseball caps and hooded tops which conceal wearers' faces.
Blears' proposals prompted protest from civil liberty groups and some criminal justice professionals.
"People won't show respect if they are treated in a demeaning manner," Doug Jewell of Liberty told Reuters.
"Putting people in uniforms may look like you are being tough, but it actually legitimises this kind of anti-social behaviour. Some people will see the uniforms as a badge of honour," he added.
Harry Fletcher, assistant general secretary of the probation union NAPO, said such a scheme could backfire and actually increase crime.
"There is no evidence from the U.S. or from Britain that going down the road of uniforms or naming and shaming will impact on crime," he told BBC television.
"The suggestion is that the reverse is the case, you will have more crime not less."
Geoff Hoon, the government's leader in the House of Commons said it was right that Blears was triggering debate.
"Community service has actually been very successful ... but there is a sense that it is an easy ride," he told Sky News.
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2005-05-15T161501Z_01_MOL554241_RTRUKOC_0_CRIME-BRITAIN-UNIFORMS.xml
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