HOW DO YOU LIKE IT SO FAR ANDY ?

There is confusion everywhere in Europe.  Not necessarily catastrophic so as to lead to paralysis or stagnation, but more in the sense of a disarray or disunity just short of a shambles. Unlike the United States, which is in a complete meltdown. 

My view is that in France the potential elevation of Marine Le Pen to high office would unleash some of the darker aspects of the French Republic such as we saw with the Vichy Government between 1940 and 1944. Germany has its own so called ‘Alternative for Germany’ , the AfD, which is causing much debate and possible inner feeling of anxiety and guilt from its past performance in the 1940’s as well.  It still hovers over the political landscape everywhere. So, yes there is some confusion over alternatives generally. 

In the United Kingdom, we have a new Prime Minister who was somehow shoehorned into his position as a sort of appointed (almost anointed) leader of the Labour Party. Of course, under this parliamentary constitutional monarchy the job of Prime Minister goes with the leadership of the largest elected political party. So Mr Burnham it is. He has found, possibly to his regret, that his ‘majority’ is made up from difficult collection of factions, biding their time. Hence the overall sense of anxiety as to whether he will be able to bring everybody on side. 

Apart from the “how will he eventually deal with Trump?’ question, he faces a number of problems over the cost of living, prisons and early release of offenders, housing, health care and a number of issues in the immediate public eye, which are requiring attention. 

On a global scale, his job is rather like that of the governor of California. There are a few differences in that California is one and three quarters larger that the UK. Also California’s population is just over half that of the UK and the density of population in the UK is more than twice that of California. The current total GDP for both is just over 4 Trillion dollars. The per capita GDP however for the UK is in the region of $65,000, whilst in California it is $120000, just under double the UK. Indeed, California on its own is now  the fourth largest economy in the world after the United States as a whole, China, and Germany, just ahead of Japan (5) India (6) and the United Kingdom (7). Indeed, the GDP of those four states is roughly just  over 4 Trillion dollars. 

However, the Prison population in California is about the same as in the UK, hovering at the 90.000 mark; There are 31 state prisons, 13 stand alone federal prisons and 21 federal prison facilities, making a total of 65. In the UK there are 142 prisons. How is there overcrowding?

There is mass overcrowding in some of the California facilities with most of the operating well above capacity. California State Prison at Centinela is at 142.3% occupancy. It is located on the West Mesa to the north of the Yuha Desert just outside El Centro on the Mexican border.

Believe it or not, there are reviews on Yelp for the prison:

I doubt if the UK Prison service will invite Yelp or Tripadvisor to have a review page for the various establishments, but maybe it might be the best way for the public to  deal with the early release program that Mr Burnham has had to deal with from the word go. The Conservative Party as well as Reform and Restore have spoken volumes of criticism. The public outrage over the early release of certain prisoners is, in my view deeply worrying. It smacks of an unhealthy extreme desire for vengeance. The behaviour and comment  of some seems to indicate that no prisoner should every be released and that every sentence should be considered a life sentence. The overpowering fear of ‘violent criminals’ being released into society seems to foster the view that every criminal is a violent criminal.   That is clearly not the case. I believe that although some repeat offenders have committed multiple acts of violence, they are far fewer in number than those who have repeatedly committed offences of dishonesty. Repeat violent offenders usually make the headlines and fortunately there are not many of them per head of population. That is not to discount the numbers of people who commit violence towards women, but again, unless they are sentenced to whole term life imprisonment, they will be released when their sentence is over. Early release is not really the issue. Should they be released at all? The question of sentencing people for violent offences is difficult.  Just how long should an individual be held in custody? 

As to early release, just how early is the release? Do they have one or two months left of  sentence? Is being released two months before the normal end of a sentence completely beyond the pale. Do we just say ‘screw them’, let them double up or sleep in the hallways, shut off the plumbing, halve the rations, and whatever else is necessary to deal with overcrowding. Why not, they’re criminals. They brought it on themselves; but, sooner or later a sentence ends and the prisoner is released into society. How and when a prisoner is released should be dealt with by the home office and a prison board fully acquainted with the prisoner’s record. We have a prison service and a probation service. If they are good at their jobs, well trained and briefed they should get on with it. 

In reality it should have nothing to do with overcrowding. That it has become a matter of making room for yet another prisoner is the outrage. That it has nothing to do with the well being of society or the rehabilitation of the prisoner is the outrage. That released prisoners have no dwelling or employment to go to, is the outrage. That a modern civilised  society can still cry out for vengeance in such a vociferous and violent manner is the outrage. That such pressure is put on a Prime Minister before he’s taken a breath is the outrage. Housing, youth employment, cost of living, national security are where the concentration should be, not letting a miscreant out of prison a couple of months before s/he comes out anyway. Have some perspective, please.