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 cra