publish yet another study that shows decriminalising personal use would be a good idea, and expert evidence on the efficacy of a rehabilitative as opposed to punitive model for prisons and sentencing is ignored time and time again. Policy is made on the basis of how it'll play in the tabloids, and nobody could get out more than two sentences of a reasoned, sensible, evidence-based policy on decriminalising drug use or rebalancing our approach to criminal sentencing and rehabilitation without being shouted down by a hail of hysteria in the red-tops. The official line, which is easier to digest and appeals to sub-editors at Tomorrow's Chip Paper Inc, is 'just say no' and 'prison works.' Anybody suggesting otherwise will be hounded as a drug-pusher and tarred with that most devastating of political brushes, 'soft on crime.' Game over. ##. If however you decided to beat the person you were arguing with senseless that would be - rightly so - and you should be facing prison. ## My point was that you were suggesting deterence is a factor in not committing crime. I didnt kill anyone for many reasons but going to jail was not one of them. I worked with young offenders and I cannot remember any of them ever worrying about consequences . .## If he's sitting in a jail cell he can't very well be out offending can he? ## I know people who will commit offences .Should we start locking them up before they commit crimes..that would