From Richard Harris
Peter Kahn said that we thrive in a natural environment, and that while we can adapt to environments divorced from nature, such as prison, we would not adapt well (4 June, p 32).
The obvious conclusion is that incarceration worsens mental states. This presumably would affect behaviour, with a probable impact on recidivism. Ethicists question the role and efficacy of punishment. It is clear that being removed from a natural environment adversely affects human psychological well-being. Should this influence policy on treatment of prisoners?
Wimborne, Dorset, UK
