[Madhatter]

Well, I'm looking at it from the point of view of cost to us cashman, I didn't do the crime, you didn't, tinks certainly didn't, so why should we have to pay for his full time stint in prison at over a hundred quid a day, PLUS have the burden of keeping his family on benefits while the criminal sits in prison watching sky tv, and getting conjucal visits. This way he gets to work to keep his own family,and himself all week and then gets his social time took off
at the weekends. For non serious crimes I think it makes sense. For serious violent crimes then yes prison. But the crime has got to justify the cost and the locking away from society.
Other punishments can hurt just as much if not more than prison and be as effective if not more, at less cost to us.
Thats how I see it anyway.