Mark Oaten's suggestions are welcome, but he goes too far when he suggests "abolishing" prisons. Maybe we can change the environment, but a central key is to focus more on rehabilitation rather than punishment, while recognising that many offenders also need to be detained. One group that doesn�t need detaining is the large number of people who offend as a result of alcohol or drugs.
Michael Wilks, Chairman Rehabilitation of Addicted Prisoners Trust

Bring back the death penalty for serious violent offenders. It is the only way to deal with these kind of people.
Matt S, England

Finally, something reasonable on the subject. Mark Oaten would get my vote on this.
Ireene-Sointu, Wales

So once again for doing wrong you get rewarded for doing wrong. If you do right in this country you have no guarantee of a job, do wrong and people want to give you a job. Youngsters get rewarded for behaving badly, courses on car repair for instance. Some kid who does no wrong cannot even get on a course like that! Punish those that do wrong and reward those that do right then we might end up with a better more lawful country. Mark Oaten you talk rubbish. Make prison harder, do it now!
Lee Gravestock, England

What the hell were you thinking in giving airtime to the totally discredited, odious Mark Oaten on The Politics Show ? A married man who frequented male prostitutes in his spare time! Utterly appalling!
Simon Gratland, UK

These were comments on the Politics Show on Sunday 22 October 2006 at 12:00 BST on BBC One.

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