Chris Grayling Quotes

I strongly believe that for serious and violent criminals, we must absolutely hold them accountable for their crimes and send them to prison.

Bad people should be incarcerated.

The key for members of the public is that they want criminals to be punished. They want them taken off the streets. They also want criminals who come out of prison to go straight.

I'm very tough on crimes where there are victims who have been physically harmed. In such cases, I do not believe in leniency.

Given the devastation that crime can visit on families and communities, I will err on being a little too tough on crime than being too soft on crime.

Juveniles as well as adults need to know they're going to be punished for their violent acts.

There is one stark fact facing us: three quarters of all crime that results in a caution or sentence happens because of reoffending. We must be fearless in dealing with this.

I don't believe in killing people. I believe in locking you up for the rest of your life.

We make no apology for people who should be in prison being in prison.

The most malign of all these dangers today is disregard and disobedience of law. Crime is increasing. Confidence in rigid and speedy justice is decreasing.

Prison works.

No one would normally accuse me of being soft on crime.

A proper criminal justice system exacts justice - that is, punishes criminals for their crimes. Rehabilitation and deterrence are worthy goals, but they are secondary to retribution.

I have prosecuted very serious criminals who are now serving very long jail sentences.

Incarceration is supposed to keep the community safe from your behavior.

You will feel the full force of the law and if you are old enough to commit these crimes you are old enough to face the punishments. And to these people I would say this: you are not only wrecking the lives of others, you are potentially wrecking your own life too.

America's criminal justice system isn't known for rehabilitation. I'm not sure that, as a society, we are even interested in that concept anymore.

Punishment can do a lot for criminals, and send a message to the rest of society.

We have determined as a society, as a country, as a people, that the incarceration and the supervision and the specific fines for a particular crime are that person's debt to society.

The message has to be sent that if you commit a crime there has to be punishment.

Criminals are punished, that others may be deterred.

No punishment has ever possessed enough power of deterrence to prevent the commission of crimes.

Criminals are not the victims of society; society is the victim of criminals.

The purpose of punishment is fulfilled, crime is repressed by penalties of just, not tormenting, severity, its repetition is prevented, and hope is given for the reformation of the criminal.

Crimes are more effectually prevented by the certainty than the severity of punishment.