A MASSIVE increase in the prison population would have only a "very modest impact" on the crime rate, according to a study on crime and social issues in Britain.
The study, which is published this week, says that prison does "work", at least to some extent, but compares badly with the alternatives in terms of cost effectiveness. The authors of Options for Britain criticise current criminal justice policy as too often based on short term political "knee jerk" reactions.
They also say "there is encouraging evidence about the effectiveness of the wider use of police cautions, community penalties and treatment programmes for drug dependent offenders." Butt the study also points out that British criminal justice policy has been hindered by the over pessimistic view that "nothing works".
However, despite the positive, results from police cautions and community penalties, "a broader and more strategic approach to, policy will be required if crime is to be reduced substantially."
The organisation of the criminal justice system in Britain also comes under the spotlight. It says that different services are organised with little connection between them and this "reduces both efficiency and accountability".