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HAVE YOUR SAY

ARE COMMUNITY SENTENCES A JOKE?

Should we get tougher with community service?

Saturday July 12,2008

Comment Speech Bubble Have your say(64)

COMMUNITY service sentencing descended into farce when an offender refused to turn up because all he did was sit around doing nothing.

A litter-picking session was even called off because it was raining, a court heard.

Michael Chambers, 55, moaned to a judge that he was wasting his time when he should have been doing unpaid work.

He said he and other offenders sat around for hours or were even sent home because probation officials had a lack of jobs for them to do.

The claim comes days after sentencing advisers sparked outrage after saying burglars should be handed community penalties instead of prison.

WE WANT TO KNOW YOUR VIEWS ON COMMUNITY SERVICE.

SHOULD BURGLARS BE HANDED COMMUNITY PENALTIES INSTEAD OF PRISON?

WHAT FORM OF COMMUNITY SERVICES SHOULD PRISONERS UNDERTAKE?

ARE COMMUNITY SENTENCES A JOKE?

HAVE YOUR SAY NOW!

COMMUNITY SERVICE ORDERS

18.09.08, 3:05am

Well they could re-flag the pavements, fill holes in the roads, remove all the litter left by the refuse collectors, clean up the graffiti daubed on our buildings - the list is huge.

• Posted by: Gerardred1309 • Report Comment

YES THEY ARE...

01.08.08, 4:00pm

....from the very begining they were not going to work. In the Daily Express today is a story about a Boot Camp in America where criminals go for the Shock Incarnation Programme, they are up every day at 5.30am, there is no TV, Papers, visits, magazines or recreation, and all the prisoners say that they have left prison abetter person for the experience, and will not be returning to a life of crime. How many ex cons over here can say that?

• Posted by: Disgruntled • Report Comment

YES THEY ARE...

01.08.08, 4:00pm

• Posted by: Disgruntled • Report Comment

YES THEY ARE...

01.08.08, 4:00pm

• Posted by: Disgruntled • Report Comment

A SOFT OPTION?

31.07.08, 5:19pm

It does not appear to be doing any good although there must be lots of work around that would be of benefit for people. Work would be good for them, at least it has a purpose,why not set targets that Nu labour is so fond of?

• Posted by: Maggie • Report Comment

ON READING THIS ARTICLE

27.07.08, 2:07am

it sounds very like the experience that my friends son had.

He had to do community service and was often sent home because there was no one to supervise him.

He would then be sent a letter because the person in charge had not made a note of sending him home, and it was in breach of his conditions.

My friend was constantly trying to sort out problems caused by lack of communication between the supervisory staff and the office staff.

I don't agree with community service at all, unless for minor offences. Using knives, mugging people etc., should carry automatic prison sentences.

• Posted by: SandieL • Report Comment