Should criminals work in the community?
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It's my first One Show blog, so I'd just like to introduce myself and say hello. I'm told I can expect a warm welcome.
So let's get down to business....
It's a way of digging yourself out of prison, and it's totally legal. Community Service has had a make-over and it's now called Community Payback, as convicted criminals are put to work on community projects decided on by a panel of local citizens.
We've got one of the highest prison populations in the west. And the question remains of what to do with those thousands of prisoners.
Community service orders have existed for years, used as an alternative to prison or a fine when dealing with some crimes. It's not a choice for the defendant, it's a choice for the court, and it's never an alternative at all in crimes that are considered more serious.
The high visibility vests worn by offenders taking part in the Community Payback pilot scheme I visited in Ipswich go one step further. The idea is to show people that this work is being done by people who may have committed their crimes in the area. But in my report I found that groups like Liberty are worried that this puts the offenders at risk of attack.
Some of the men I met digging those steps in their orange bibs had experience in construction. I could easily judge their work when I was there (and to me the steps looked strong, well built and fitted well into their environment) but you can't judge so easily where you stand on the Community Payback scheme itself.
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There's more information on Community Payback .
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Thanks for looking at my first One Show blog, you can bet I'll return the favour by reading your comments. And don't forget, if you're sitting on a tale of life in the UK that you want the rest of the country to know about, you can tell us here.
So, it's over to you. Should it be left to the community to decide how people who committed crimes against them pay back that debt? Would you attend a council meeting and suggest projects in your area? Or shouldÌýit be left to professionals in the justice system to decide?
What do you think of Community Payback? If you're fed up with crime where you live, do you think this scheme would help solve the problem? Share your views.
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