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Why has Jack Straw shoved his head up his arse?

By John Hirst

Why has Jack Straw shoved his head up his arse?

I am somewhat puzzled why Jack Straw has decided to give this particular speech to the Royal Society of Arts? Google informs me that: "The RSA is a charity which encourages the development of a principled, prosperous society and the release of human potential". According to the BBC: Jail reformers 'forget victims' "Prison reformers must do more to help the victims of crime, Justice Secretary Jack Straw is due to say". My understanding is that prison reform groups are set up with the twin aims of reforming prisons and reforming prisoners. They have enough on their plate without having the additional burden thrust upon them of aiding victims of crime.

As I understand it, victims of crime are taken care of when an offender is caught and the offender goes through the Criminal Justice System. This is Jack Straw's responsibility. It is no good seeking to abdicate responsibility by trying to shoulder it upon prison reform groups. In prison, prison officers refer to this tactic as 'sloping shoulders'.

I do wish that the BBC would refrain from referring to NACRO (which was originally called the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders, then restyled itself as the "crime reduction charity") as a charity. NACRO is now a prison business having joined forces with Global Soloutions Ltd (formally Group 4). That is, NACRO has an interest in building more prisons and keeping prisoners in longer because it is where the profits are.

I find it odd that Jack Straw is claiming that he is not returning to Victorian values, given that a large part of the penal estate is still made up of Victorian prisons.

I would say that Jack Straw has gone around in circles and lost his head up his own arse!

Full post as published by prisonlawinsideout on October 27, 2008 (boomark / email).