Revolving Doors has begun a campaign to end short prison sentences.
It commissioned a poll which found that four out of five people did not think a prison sentence was appropriate in such cases as shoplifting of essentials like food or nappies. Currently 30,000 people each year go to prison on sentences of less than six months. This represents half of all people sent to prison to serve a sentence.
Revolving Doors is calling on the Government to introduce a presumption against the use of short custodial sentences of less than six months, requiring the court to only impose such a sentence if no other appropriate disposal is available and to record publicly the reason for a custodial sentence.
