LIBERAL Democrats look set to back plans to reform prison sentences and halve the prison population.Tuesday (September 24) the Liberal Democrat party conference will meet to debate calls to cut Britain's 72,000 prison population, including proposals for "weekend only" sentences.
With more than 70 per cent of young offenders returning to crime despite having served custodial sentences, party bosses claim prison isn't working.
Lib Dems want more weekend-only sentences so offenders can hold down jobs during their punishment.
North West Euro-MP Chris Davies said prison should be for violent criminals or those who refused to comply with other sentences.
"If prison works then Britain would have the lowest crime rate in Europe.
That's clearly not the case, so we are doing something wrong," he said.
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