Recommendation 110

Justin Russell said that to reduce the criminal activity of low-level, ‘prolific’ offenders, their rehabilitation “would need to involve a residential element” and “treatment for mental health and/or drug and alcohol problems”, which “would probably need to involve someone consenting” to such interventions. 206 At the moment, however, “the danger is that they would say, ‘I’d rather have the six-week prison sentence than spend six months in a rehab, thank you very much’”. 207 Therefore, Justin Russell argued that “the way you set up the incentives to take the alternative to prison would need to be carefully thought through”. 208