Our prisons are in crisis – but how do we address the causes of crime? | Letters

In response to Dr. Drew Gray's letter on prisons (August 15), I don't think his statement is groundbreaking. In it he asks, “Do we really want to reform criminals or just lock them away so we don't have to deal with the causes of their crimes?” Unfortunately, the answer has been and continues to be the latter. Society often shies away from examining the causes of crime too closely. Attitudes toward people in prison are usually shaped by mainstream media coverage. As Jung said, “Thinking is difficult, so most people judge.”

Dr Gray is not alone in believing that prison is not working for the majority. But I wonder how he plans to bring about these changes. Creating positive change from within is almost impossible. The excuse is always, “It's a safety issue.” I was a nurse. All I could do was be kind, listen and do my job, and even then I battled a barrage of prejudice and apathy from colleagues. Personally, I'm not entirely convinced that prisons were worse 200 years ago.

Systemic change can only come from government and should start with not leaving prisoner care to the cheap provider. It is important to employ appropriate staff and provide effective training that also provides an appropriate understanding of trauma and addiction.
Katie Haddon
Carshalton, London

Dr. Gray has made the blanket statement that prisons don't work. However, his claim is based entirely on the role of prisons in rehabilitation, which is a complex issue and not just the responsibility of prisons. Probation officers, employers, family, friends and the community are all important elements that help reduce recidivism.

In any civilised society, the primary purpose of any punishment imposed by the state is to have a deterrent effect. It could be argued that prison time has a deterrent effect, given that only around 0.25% of the UK's adult population is currently incarcerated.
Stuart Harrington
Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset