At present, we send inadequates to prison because it is the most convenient way of dealing with them.
I am not talking about the drunks, inadequates, or the mentally ill.
There are many pathetic inadequates, and there are many tough guys who should not have their image reinforced.
A wide variety of inadequates are in prison because of their own inadequacy.
With severe passive inadequates, the only way to prevent relapse is to keep them in hostel care indefinitely.
In the case of the persistent offender and other inadequates it may well be that they should earn their living under adequate supervision.
I am certainly not insensible to the concerns of those who wish to prevent imprisonment for maintenance debts being imposed on feckless inadequates.
They include, in particular, mentally disordered offenders, petty inadequates, and fine and maintenance defaulters.
