Rehabilitation
For private calls: British prisoners get free cell phones
Dangerous inmates such as terrorists should also be allowed to make private phone calls in the future
© Danny Lawson // Picture Alliance
Thousands of detained criminals, including terrorists, are said to have received cell phones in the UK. This way, they can talk to their families from their cells.
Prison inmates in the UK are said to be given free cell phones. British Justice Minister Dominic Raab wants to allow dangerous criminals, including terrorists, to make private phone calls. This is reported by the “Sun”.
Raab is convinced that the secure telephones, with which only approved numbers can be called, will reduce the recidivism rate. According to the Justice Department, criminals with family ties are almost 40 percent less likely to reoffend.
Calls should be monitored on a random basis
How many cell phones will be handed over will be announced in the course of the year. Since the beginning of the pandemic, around 1,500 phones have been given to prisoners because face-to-face meetings have been prohibited due to the corona.
According to “Sun”, the phone calls are to be recorded and monitored on a random basis. All conversations with terrorists are monitored. For every call the prisoners are supposed to pay with in-prison jobs.
“This crazy policy is crying out for trouble”
David Spencer from the UK Center for Crime Prevention is critical of the Justice Department’s plan. “These insane policies are crying out for trouble and will result in more prisoners being able to engage in illegal activities from their cells,” says Spencer. “Instead of rewarding criminals with free phones, the Justice Department should stop smuggling illegal phones and spend the money making the prison system work better for law-abiding citizens.”
The law enforcement agency says, “Maintaining family ties has been shown to reduce recidivism, prevent further crime, and protect the public.”
source: “The Sun”