In the week when Salford murderer Michael Cope was jailed for ‘life’ with a minimum sentence of 27 years, the issue of punishment versus rehabilitation has once again come to the fore.
With whole-life orders still possible in this country for repeat offenders and those that murder children, the question of just what a ‘life sentence’ should be remains a topic for debate.
Prime Minister David Cameron sparked much controversy several weeks ago when he claimed that Britain should go against the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights and adopt the US-style 100-year prison sentences.
MM took to the streets to ask the people of Manchester ‘do you think life should mean life?’
|
Options |
Results |
|
Yes |
27% |
|
No |
73% |
However, Nathan Thomas, 34, a builder from Eccles said: “There are some crimes that are just inexcusable. Do we really believe that these people will get better as a result of an extended prison stay?”
Tim Shields, a lawyer living in Rusholme, 28, said: “The purpose of prison should always be rehabilitation rather than punishment.”
Alka Monga, a 58-year-old teacher from Longsight, however, said: “Only if the punishment fits the crime should they be put away for life – I believe in an eye for an eye for murderers.”
Similarly, Phil Tibbs, a shop assistant from Ardwick, 29, said: “The only way we are going to deter people from committing the most serious crimes is to hit them with the most serious sentences.”
While some preferred harsher sentences, the majority of Mancunians were resolute in their support of the current system.
Luke Atkinson, 19, a Fallowfield-based politics student said: “I saw what David Cameron said about ‘life means life’ and I just don’t believe that it works as a system because where do we draw the line?”
Kath Pepper, a 53-year-old full-time mum from Chadderton said: “Everyone needs that hope that society hasn’t just given up on them. They need to be able to prove they have been changed by prison.”
Yoojin Chung, 34, a business consultant from Didsbury, said: “I don’t even agree with the current prison system, where no-one has a proper chance at rehabilitation. Newly-released ex-cons have no chance in the world anyway so we might as well have locked them away for life as that’s what we take more often than not.”
For more on this story and many others, follow Mancunian Matters on Twitter and Facebook.
