- Paperback: 248 pages
- Publisher: Book Guild Publishing (31 May 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1846242053
- ISBN-13: 978-1846242052
- Product Dimensions: 21.2 x 13.4 x 3.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 710,365 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Review
A wonderful antidote to the poisonous myths so assiduously promoted by the anti-prison lobby. --Sunday Telegraph
A devastating critique (and) startling insider's account of the deception being played upon the public. --Daily Mail
A powerful 'wake-up' call which Britons at all levels can afford to ignore only at their peril. --The Commonwealth Lawyer
A devastating critique (and) startling insider's account of the deception being played upon the public. --Daily Mail
A powerful 'wake-up' call which Britons at all levels can afford to ignore only at their peril. --The Commonwealth Lawyer
Daily Mail
A devastating critique (and) startling insider’s account of the deception being played upon the public.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
32 of 32 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The author has worked in the British criminal justice system since the 1960s, and has since seen the dramatic shift in the way criminals are dealt with. He argues that in the 1960s, and emphasis on punishment, coupled with a good grasp of natural justice and common sense kept criminals locked up, deterred future crime and kept the public safe. He laments the reversal that has since occurred.
He argues three main points: firstly, that there is a determined anti-prison lobby in British society and the civil service, who are determined to keep as many offenders as possible from going to jail. The result is more offenders come to realise their offences will not be punished, and they are also in the community, free to commit more crime.
Secondly, the author attacks the judiciary, with special contempt poured on high court judges. The author argues that the judges jealous belief in their own wisdom and expertise leads them to ignore the concerns of the public, whom they regard as misinformed proles whose opinions are not worthy of serious consideration. This "expert" view also extends to judges ignoring sentencing guidelines which regard as an affront to their "expert" judgement. Again, the only people who win here being the judges whose ego is massaged, and the criminals who escape jail.
Finally, the author attacks the notion that "prison does not work". He states very simply that if an offender is locked up, he cannot possibly victimise the public, and this "preventative detention" should be a central plank in the criminal justice system. Linked to this is the authors view that the social worker "hugs and excuses" mentality has to go, and that the criminal justice system should protect the public, not indulge the messiah complex of probation officers and social workers.
All in all, the book is an excellent, if at times hopelessly depressing read, particularly his vivid descriptions of how vicious crimes have often escaped with mind bogglingly light sentences. The book is a wake up call to the British public, who must act on his recommendations if the already intolerable crime rate is to be challenged. Fortunately, the author lists a number of detailed steps we can take, and leaves us on the optimistic note that the power to change the situation we are in lies within us.
He argues three main points: firstly, that there is a determined anti-prison lobby in British society and the civil service, who are determined to keep as many offenders as possible from going to jail. The result is more offenders come to realise their offences will not be punished, and they are also in the community, free to commit more crime.
Secondly, the author attacks the judiciary, with special contempt poured on high court judges. The author argues that the judges jealous belief in their own wisdom and expertise leads them to ignore the concerns of the public, whom they regard as misinformed proles whose opinions are not worthy of serious consideration. This "expert" view also extends to judges ignoring sentencing guidelines which regard as an affront to their "expert" judgement. Again, the only people who win here being the judges whose ego is massaged, and the criminals who escape jail.
Finally, the author attacks the notion that "prison does not work". He states very simply that if an offender is locked up, he cannot possibly victimise the public, and this "preventative detention" should be a central plank in the criminal justice system. Linked to this is the authors view that the social worker "hugs and excuses" mentality has to go, and that the criminal justice system should protect the public, not indulge the messiah complex of probation officers and social workers.
All in all, the book is an excellent, if at times hopelessly depressing read, particularly his vivid descriptions of how vicious crimes have often escaped with mind bogglingly light sentences. The book is a wake up call to the British public, who must act on his recommendations if the already intolerable crime rate is to be challenged. Fortunately, the author lists a number of detailed steps we can take, and leaves us on the optimistic note that the power to change the situation we are in lies within us.
27 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
An excellent, if very disturbing, book that details the shocking state of affairs that is behind the rise in crime in the UK since the 1960's, and the widespread attempts by successive Governments (of both hues) to knowingly persist with an anti-prison agenda for no other reasons than cost, and an utterly discredited idea that Prison (and a large prison population) is wrong.
There are one or two points however that Fraser lets himself down by citing things that are incorrect - the most prominent being where he states that drugs workers who visit Police stations have the ability to resolve that case by giving the prisoner treatment (instead of the prisoner being charged or cautioned), something which does not happen. He also follows the Press line on Tony Martin, even though this was disproved at two trials - while Martin was deserving of some sympathy, he was blatantly guilty of the offence he was convicted for and lied to try and cover it up.
These do not detract however from the main thrusts of his book - that more severe sentencing and much wider use of prison works in reducing crime by separating society from criminals; and that successive Governments aided by most of the Probation Service and encouraged by anti-prison groups have endangered the public by abandoning prison in favour of ineffective non-custodial remedies - which are (sadly) illustrated by daily news stories of obscenely lenient penalties.
The book demands a wider audience, and the themes within surely have to be discussed at a national level.
There are one or two points however that Fraser lets himself down by citing things that are incorrect - the most prominent being where he states that drugs workers who visit Police stations have the ability to resolve that case by giving the prisoner treatment (instead of the prisoner being charged or cautioned), something which does not happen. He also follows the Press line on Tony Martin, even though this was disproved at two trials - while Martin was deserving of some sympathy, he was blatantly guilty of the offence he was convicted for and lied to try and cover it up.
These do not detract however from the main thrusts of his book - that more severe sentencing and much wider use of prison works in reducing crime by separating society from criminals; and that successive Governments aided by most of the Probation Service and encouraged by anti-prison groups have endangered the public by abandoning prison in favour of ineffective non-custodial remedies - which are (sadly) illustrated by daily news stories of obscenely lenient penalties.
The book demands a wider audience, and the themes within surely have to be discussed at a national level.
12 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
How refreshing to read a factual and hard hitting book without the usual Grimms Fairy tales farce of the mainstream political machine, everyone should read this and vote accordingly!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
What punishment works?
If you bother to read the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee (1998) and think about what has happened subsequently, you may face something of a dilemma. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Donald Scott
A book worth reading
This book is disturbing, to say the least, because it is true. It is also quite repetitive, so can seem quite tedious. Read more
Published on 16 Jun 2008 by Chasamatazz
Detail of today's collapse of British law enforcement
Truly shocking, numerous accounts of the British gov't lying and creating their own phony statistics as to the success of criminal enforcement. Read more
Published on 20 Aug 2006 by Scott Horn
detailed, informed, angry, but hard work
The author was 25 years in the National Probation Service and has compiled a detailed and angry criticism of the criminal justice system. Read more
Published on 29 May 2006 by A. Crabtree
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