Prisoners asked if their cell was nice enough

[Loki]

Prisoners asked if their cell was nice enough

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Suspected criminals are being handed customer satisfaction forms to check that their time spent in a cell was cosy enough.

Police officers are giving out the leaflets with 41 questions about food, cleanliness and reading material.

Suspects are asked to rate whether the food and drink was suitable for their dietary needs and if books and magazines were supplied 'on request'. Other questions focus on the quality of the cell, whether it was clean enough, the right temperature and if they were offered a shower and a phone call.

Officers are complaining that the form encourages suspects to use the cell buzzer like 'a room service hotline'.

Some of the police cells are used as overnight holding cells for convicted prisoners when jails are full.

The hotel-style 'Did you enjoy your stay?' questionnaire is being handed to 1,000 prisoners as part of a pilot scheme at Devon and Cornwall Constabulary to 'improve the service'.

Suspects will be asked to rate a variety of 'services' on offer, including if they 'felt safe' in their cell and whether it was 'too hot' or 'too cold'.

One officer, who did not want to be named, said: 'It is a bit rich really. These people are in the cell for a reason, it's not like they've come here on holiday. They are starting to treat the emergency cell buzzer like a room service hotline.'

Dave James, secretary of Devon and Cornwall Police Federation, said the suspects were being treated better than hotel customers. 'You would not get a questionnaire that detailed in a Holiday Inn,' he added.

Senior officers said it was part of a pilot scheme to see if the force could improve its service.

Chief Insp Ivan Trethewey, the force's head of custody, said: 'It does not mean we will be providing steak dinners as a result. There could be some valuable learning points, however.'

Frances Crook, director of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: 'Those individuals taken into policy custody are not prisoners and have not been convicted of any criminal offence. Most will be released without charge and without a blot on their character.

'These innocent people must be protected from harm and treated with respect. It could happen to anyone.'

[Ariets]

Thats ridiculous

[WinterMoon]

For convicted criminals I am in favor of Sheriff Apaio's methods.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Arpaio

http://www.mcso.org/index.php?a=GetM...mn=Sheriff_Bio


But, from what I understand, the above article is about "suspected criminals." Those who are "innocent until proven guilty." I realize that hypothetically, police don't arrest a person unless they have enough evidence, but in reality it is not always the case. Putting the shoe on my foot, if I was ever falsely arrested for anything, it would be nice if my stay was pleasant rather than traumtic. I don't think that satisfaction surveys are necesarily a bad thing. On the other hand, I don't think holding cells should be comfy for bums (looking for a place to stay for the night), or suspects of violent crimes, or repeat offender, etc. Surveys are also a way to protect the police, depending on how they give them out and collect them. If it isn't annonymous, then the police have that as evidence that a person had a nice stay, to protect against false suits brought against them.

[Útrám]

In a sensible society they would be asked if their labour camp was nice enough.

[Lady L]

I don't think it is ridiculous. Nor do I think they should be treated as King's. But, here in Alabama there was a big scandal where the Chief of Police was pocketing the money meant for prisoner meals and basically letting them starve. Lyfing has told me the few times he was in jail they basically starved them. Do they deserve that ...? No. I think it is important that they have enough to eat and they should be safe. If its against the law to murder outside of Prison, why should such hanus acts be looked at as the " Norm " in Prison.

[Atlas]

What else kind sir ?

Take away the weight gyms, the satallite TV, internet, and all the other goodies, want to pass the time in prison READ A FUCKING BOOK!

[Arahari]

In England a man is innocent until proven guilty and many people such as myself have been arrested and not charged. Should that mean we should be treated with no dignity or respect?
The Police have a duty of care towards all those who they taken into custody.

[Beorn]

In England a man is innocent until proven guilty

Not these days. The Magna Carta is merely toilet paper to these Scots.

[SwordoftheVistula]

This relates to another of my pet causes, 'confusion of the criminal and normal'.

If all these people end up being released without charge, then why the hell are they arresting them? I suspect it is some variant of the saying police here have, "you can beat the charge but you can't beat the ride". If this is the case, they need to cut down on the things which are arrestable offenses.

As for the actual criminals (people who physically harm others' person or property), give them a beat down and throw them in a labor camp.

[Fortis in Arduis]

Wake up and read the article dollies!

These cells are for people who have been arrested, not convicted.

These cells are not for punishment.

That's all.