Are jails too comfortable, making inmates reluctant to leave? Certainly the UK Prison Officers Association thinks so because it has evidence that drug dealers regularly break into prisons, but inmates do not leave with them. It seems conditions are too good: free bed and board - three square a day - satellite TV and video games, in-house fitness centres, and even the ability to have forbidden forms of recreation should the desire be there.

The "softly, softly" approach to what was once called hard time has raised the ire of many lawmakers and members of the public. Lawmakers consider it making a mockery of the whole process of corrective internment; the public wonder why prisoners have it so good, when those on the outside have difficulty making ends meet.

It is now the "free" people who have the hard time.