There are two types of sentencing, which can be given to an offender; these are custodial and non-custodial sentences. If the offender is given a custodial sentence they are then taken to prison, where the sentence will begin, however, if the offender is between sixteen and twenty-one years of age, they will be sent to a Young Offenders Institution rather than prison. Judges can punish people in a number of different ways rather than sending them to prison, these punishments are called 'alternatives to custody' or 'non-custodial sentences'. For example, someone could be given a fine, treated for drug addiction, made to do community service, given employment training or even made to wear an electronic tag as an alternative to sending them to prison or a young offenders institute. Non-custodial sentences are used in cases where it is believed that the offender is not likely to commit the crime again or that they committed the crime because they needed help. It is for these people that alternatives to custody may help them as well as punish the offender. An example of a non-custodial sentence is community service. A Community service Order is an order of the court, which requires the offender to undertake unpaid work. The Community Service Order will specify how many hours the offender is required to work and the time period over which they must complete these hours. Sentences of between 80 and 240 hours can be awarded and are required to be completed within one year. Community Service work normally involves practical or manual work such as environmental improvements, decorating, gardening and graffiti removal. Another example of a non-custodial sentence is electronic tagging/monitoring. Electronic monitoring works by way of a transmitter and monitoring unit installed in an offender's home. The transmitter is a tag securely fitted to the offender's ankle and the monitoring unit is connected to a telephone line. The offender is then monitored to ensure they follow the guidelines of their particular curfew order.
While some people may question the effectiveness of non-custodial methods of punishment, such as electronic tagging, statistics have proven otherwise. Although these alternatives to custody have got off to a “slow start”, there has been a fifty percent increase in the use of non-custodial methods. Probation officers have criticised the scheme claiming that it will not prevent crimes being committed during the day, but statistics show that eighty-three percent of sentences have been completed successfully making them a “real alternative to custody”. Apart from being a success it also helped bring stability to the offender’s lifestyle. In cases where a short custodial sentence is used instead of the non-custodial methods, it was found that two-thirds of offenders lose their job whilst in prison and two-fifths lose contact with family members. Using a non-custodial method would barely affect the lifestyle of the offender at all.
In my opinion the increase in the use of non-custodial methods of sentencing is a success, it has been proven to be a success, it helps offender’s of minor crimes gain stability in their lifestyle, unlike the affects of custodial sentences and will mean a decrease in the costs of prisons due to a decrease in custodial sentencing. I feel that non-custodial sentences are a good way to deter potential offenders from committing crimes as it means they will have to work unpaid, pay fines or follow a curfew meaning that they may lose certain privileges, for example, going to football matches. Although there are many good points, there is also the possibility that victims of a crime may not like the thought that the offender is not imprisoned, because of this I feel that non-custodial sentences should be given only when it is believed that the offender will not commit the crime again or that they committed the crime because they needed help.
Luka Atkinson
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