Do Shorter Prison Sentences Make Society Less Safe? What the Evidence Says

Would shorter prison sentences ‘spark a crime wave’? Here’s what the evidence says

The final report of the Independent Sentencing Review proposed the most significant reforms since the 1990s

Do shorter prison sentences make society less safe? What the evidence says

The final report of the Independent Sentencing Review has proposed the most significant reform of sentencing and punishment in England and Wales since the 1990s. The review, chaired by former Conservative justice secretary David Gauke, calls for a number of changes to address the crisis of overcrowding in prisons. These include using fewer and shorter prison sentences, enhanced opportunities for early release based on good behaviour, and more us…

With a comprehensive reform, the British government wants to relieve the overcrowded prison system. Perpetrators should be released earlier and better monitored instead. Alternative penalties such as driving or football stadium bans are also being discussed.