Hi , I’m Glynn Hobson and this is about me me me
I promised myself that I would make a start on this project today, Saturday the 11th of July 2009, after putting it off for one week now. I actually set my intention to start it last weekend to coincide with my niece Clair’s wedding to Nick. I thought the 4th of July might just ring a few bells and actually get me moving on this one. Another insight into me me me
It is now 11.26 pm and I have actually started the process. I have given myself approximately half an hour to put something on here that I find interesting, so here goes.
Firstly I would like to say why I find it interesting 
The following article grabbed my attention because it is something that I feel very strongly about. I have spent quite a bit of my life in prisons up and down the country. Not as an inmate OR as an official of any capacity. I have painted literally miles of prison fencing.
WOW I here you saying, how freakin interesting does it get?
Well just imagine this for a few seconds…..if you were a reporter for instance who wanted a birds eye view and first hand opinion on prison life “FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE FENCE”, apart from getting yourself sentenced, how could you ?…Getting interesting?
Read this report and I will comment later as I now only have 12 minutes left to work out out to put it here!
If I fail here is direct link to the Sunday Herald (where I found it).
sundayherald.com/news/heraldnews/display.var.2518275.0.0.php”>
CHERIE BLAIR has praised the Scottish government’s “courageous lead” on prison reform, despite it being heavily criticised by the Labour party north of the Border.
The QC and wife of former prime minister Tony Blair makes the comments in a report by the Commission On English Prisons Today. It recommends a radical cut in the prison population and the replacement of short sentences with community-based alternatives.
The ideas mirror those of last year’s report by the Scottish Prisons Commission, which justice secretary Kenny MacAskill plans to put into effect through a criminal justice bill currently in the Scottish parliament.
However, he faces resistance from Labour and Tory MSPs, who say having a presumption against custodial sentences of less than six months in favour of “community payback orders” would lead to more criminals on the street.
The English report says: “Scotland has taken a courageous lead in the UK by taking serious steps to address its prisoner crisis. In convening the Scottish Prisons Commission, the Scottish government sought radical and innovative ways to improve public safety.”
Blair, the commission president, added: “More widespread use of effective community sentences would both allow us to reduce the use of prison and allow for reinvestment of resources into local communities to cut offending.”
Angela Constance, for the SNP, said: “It is time opposition parties dropped the petty politics and focussed on doing what is right to make Scotland’s communities safer.”
But Scottish Labour attacked the SNP plans again yesterday, citing official figures released under freedom of information laws which showed the offences currently being given short sentences – those likely to avoid jail in future. Last year, 63 people guilty of serious assault, 85 guilty of robbery, 625 housebreakers, 486 drug offenders, and 648 people guilty of offensive weapon charges were sentenced to less than six months.
Labour MSP Paul Martin said: “Under Kenny MacAskill’s plans he would essentially be issuing get out of jail free cards to hundreds of dangerous criminals.”
