The document discusses the different approaches to prisons in the UK - punishment versus rehabilitation. It explains that currently prisons aim to both punish criminals by taking away their freedom, but also rehabilitate them by teaching skills and allowing family visits. However, over half of criminals imprisoned for under a year reoffend. There is debate around whether prisons should focus more on longer punishments or rehabilitation to prevent reoffending.

1. PUNISHMENT AND
REHABILITATION
EXPLAINED

2. 1PUNISHMENT AND
REHABILITATION
Explained
Prison is a place
where criminals are
locked up. Their
freedom is taken
away and they can’t
go into the outside
world. In some
prisons in the UK,
prisoners are
taught skills, can
exercise outside
and have visits
from their family.

3. 2
PUNISHMENT AND
REHABILITATION
Explained
Mr Cameron
said: “No longer
will [prisons] be
warehouses for
criminals; they
will now be
places where
lives are
changed.”
Two months
afterwards,
Mr Cameron
lost his job.
Photo: 360b/www.shutterstock.com

4. 3PUNISHMENT AND
REHABILITATION
Explained
Theresa May is
now prime
minister.
She chose Liz
Truss to be the
new justice
minister. This
means Ms Truss
has the power to
change the UK
prison system.
Photo: Frederic Legrand – COMEO / www.shutterstock.com

5. 4
PUNISHMENT AND
REHABILITATION
Explained
Ms Truss hasn't
promised to
carry out all of
Mr Cameron's
plans.
No one knows
what will
happen next.
Photo Twocoms / www.shutterstock.com

6. 5PUNISHMENT AND
REHABILITATION
Explained
Hundreds of years
ago in Britain,
criminals were
given cruel
punishments,
such as whipping.

7. 6
PUNISHMENT AND
REHABILITATION
Explained
In the 1700s,
even small
crimes like
stealing were
sometimes
punishable by
death.

8. 7PUNISHMENT AND
REHABILITATION
Explained
Until 1965,
murderers in the
UK could be
sentenced to
death by
hanging.

9. 8
PUNISHMENT AND
REHABILITATION
Explained
Now the
biggest
punishment for
any criminal in
the UK is to be
sent to prison
for a long time.

10. 9PUNISHMENT AND
REHABILITATION
Explained
Really
dangerous
criminals, such
as those who kill
other people,
can be sent to
prison for their
whole lives.

11. 10
PUNISHMENT AND
REHABILITATION
Explained
But most
criminals are
released
after a few
months or
years.

12. 11PUNISHMENT AND
REHABILITATION
Explained
Unfortunately,
quite a lot of
people who have
been to prison
commit crimes
again after they
are released.

13. 12
PUNISHMENT AND
REHABILITATION
Explained
Among
criminals who
spend a year
or less behind
bars, more
than half are
caught
committing
another crime
after they are
freed.

14. 13PUNISHMENT AND
REHABILITATION
Explained
Some people think
the answer is to
lock criminals up
for longer. This
is called the
‘punitive’
approach.

15. 14
PUNISHMENT AND
REHABILITATION
Explained
Others think we
should try to help
them to become
law-abiding
citizens.
This is called
‘rehabilitation’.
Photo: Skyward Kick Productions / www.shutterstock.com