Sir: Matthew Parris's criticism of the Arch- bishop of Canterbury's
recent address to the Prison Reform Trust is largely based on Dr Carey's failure to use the term 'retribu- tion'. Yet the Archbishop's speech repeat- edly accepted the need for 'punishment' acknowledged that this involved 'pain and humiliation'; emphasised that it must also bring the offender to understand the human consequences of his actions and why they are wrong, and called for a 'construc- tive balance' between punishment, deter- rence, reparation and rehabilitation.
The founder of the Christian religion did not shrink from the idea of just punishment (and it is disturbing that the Government now proposes to move away from retribu- tion in its proper sense towards mandatory sentencing, which cannot reflect individual culpability). However, He also emphasised the high priority which must be given to reclaiming wrongdoers and seeking out lost sheep. Dr Carey's concern that present policies will reduce opportunities for the rehabilitation of offenders is a wholly legiti- mate moral concern for a Christian leader to express.
Paul Cavadino
Chairman, Penal Affairs Consortium, 169 Clapham Road, London SW9
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