Crime among young people has two common denominators – the absence of a consistent, loving carer and lack of self-worth through illiteracy.
SOLUTION:
1. Pay specified mothers or alternative parent to spend time with children.
2. Require people on probation and prisoners on remand or serving sentences to attend literacy and numeracy classes. Until this attendance is made a requirement, prison officers will give priority to other escort duties.
Lack of literate or numerate skills engenders feelings of inferiority, fertile ground for criminality. The search for protection and worth is sought in gang membership.
The skills on offer in prisons tend to be rejected when freedom has been regained, whereas the acquisition of reading, writing and arithmetical skills stays for life.
2050-2