Prisons are fundamentally a liberal concept that can only be effective in a conservative society, according to commentator Peter Hitchens. He asserts that without robust moral guidelines, stable families, and authoritative figures across various societal roles—from fathers and teachers to law enforcement—prisons lose their efficacy.
The concept of long-term incarceration as punishment is relatively recent, with historical practices leaning towards transportation to colonies or capital punishment. Before the 19th century, prisons primarily served as holding facilities for individuals awaiting trial, deportation, or execution, often in squalid conditions.
The shift towards systematic imprisonment gained traction following a period of moral and religious revival in 19th-century Britain. This era saw a strong societal emphasis on distinguishing right from wrong, coupled with a visible police presence that deterred lawbreaking. Victorian prisons, such as Wormwood Scrubs, Armley, and Strangeways, were built with an explicit aim to instill fear and discourage criminal behavior.
Hitchens argues that this model worked because it was supported by a traditional society. For many, the fear of apprehension and imprisonment served as a deterrent. However, he posits that since the cultural shifts of the 1960s, a decline in societal morals, weakened family structures, and a less assertive police force have led to increased crime rates. This has resulted in individuals committing multiple offenses before facing consequences, by which time rehabilitation becomes significantly more challenging.
The author points to statistics indicating a substantial rise in prison populations in England and Wales since 1960, growing from approximately 27,000 to over 87,000. This overcrowding, he suggests, has made prisons unmanageable, with inmates effectively ruling the facilities and officers acting more as negotiators than enforcers. This environment, Hitchens contends, leads to prisoners emerging more dangerous than when they entered and contributes to a high rate of suicides.
Consequently, Hitchens views current debates about early prisoner releases as largely superficial. He believes the core issue lies in a broader societal loss of control, which began approximately 60 years ago. He implies that until the root causes of this societal shift are addressed—a task he deems beyond the scope of current politicians—the effectiveness of the prison system will remain compromised.