It has been reported in the news recently that Lord Philips thinks murderers and rapists serving life should have their sentences cut to combat the overcrowding in jails, esp, since many of those currently serving are too old to pose any threat.

NowI am aware that much of what he has said has been taken out of context, however, I agree with the bare bones of what he is saying.

In my opinion, once "lifers" reach, say, the age of 75 they should be released. "Life imprisonment" should be until they die or turn 75, whichever comes first(!)

I feel that by the age of 75, what threat could these people possibly pose to society at large? Also, if victims are viewing prison as some sort of "revenge" against the person, then up to age 75 should be punishment enough. They will not have much of a life even upon release. They will be living off a pittance of state pension and in a crappy care home, having no means to pay for any better. Anyone in jail from their early 20's probably wouldn;t have children, and therefore no extended family to care for them.

I know there are other issues such as who takes care of these people once they are out.

Not to mention the obvious occurance of a whole bunch of 74 year olds going on killing sprees because they know they will only serve one year in jail(!)

But the bigger picture is this: whats the point in having a whole bunch of "geriatric" prisoners who are no threat to anyone in prisonwhen there are those being given paltry or community sentences for serious crimes because there is no space in jail for them?

Fair enough these old folks, once released, will be a burden on the state. But they are already.

In terms of retribution/punishment surely spending until the age of 75 in jail covers that.

Just my opinion.

no they won't be a threat

HOWEVER

once releaed at 75 they can go and spend time with their familiee, heck they might live to 85 and spend time with their family, not all murderers are from poor background, many have money and can get to spend it on their grandkids, cousins, niceses and nephews.............

bare in mind those who got murdred do not get to see their loved ones at all, or the ones that have been raped, their life has been altered for LIFE

hence prison is partially due to protect society, but also to PUNISH the criminal.

Life means LIFE.

i see what you're saying, but what is the point in keeping very old people who pose no threat in jail when there are people being given pitiful sentences or no sentences at all because there is no room for them in jail? I would be more concerned about a murderer who killed someone last month and is still basically free thana murdererwho killed someone 40 years ago and is now too old to do anything.

Yes, they ay be able to get to enjoy life/time with their family once released, but at that age and with being in prison for so long, what is there really left to enjoy?

I can sympathise with the victims of such people, but what do they really get out of someone who is old and decrepit staying in prison til they die of old age? if the perpertrator commited their crime at, say 25, they would have spent 50 years in prison.

Of course there are cases where life really should mean life, like when they refuse to say where a victims body is buried or they have some kind of uncontrollable psychosis that would mean they would be commiting crimes regardless of their ages.

But for the mist part, i don;t see any point in someone being in jail past the age of 75 when killers oday are walking free.