Scrump, all that will do is create PISSED OFF criminals who are even meaner when they get out. Among other problems that I can see with it are the gaurds will also become less civilized/human, there is NO way to put every inmate in isolation, and no way to stop all communication between inmates.

Sorcha, I wasn't suggesting that all criminals should be kept in solitary confinement all the time (except as now, for 'bad behaviour' in jail). I said they allow inmates to have contact with one another in uncontrolled conditions, so they are able to "re-educate" each other in crime and learn how to commit other crimes while in jail

In other words, their contact with one another should be limited to times when they can be observed by prison staff, to reduce the opportunities for them to 'cross-corrupt' one another. That would mean them sleeping in separate rooms. Is that so bad? Anyone travelling on business has to sleep in a hotel room on their own.

Apart from me, the general view here seems to be that jail won't be a deterrent to crime. I believe it would be if the sentences were longer and tougher, as they used to be before the 'do-gooders' had their way. Of course, you have to catch them first, and we need more police to do that. I'm not saying toughening up the jail regime would work on its own - it has to part of a wider improvement in the way we deal with crime - more police, more jails, tougher sentences.

Yes, it would be good if we could rehabilitate all criminals and prevent them all re-offending, but the first priority is to clean up the streets and protect the public. The public's interests should, IMO, come first, not the criminals', which seems to be the priority these days.

Mumble, grumble, bah, humbug... (fade)