If it costs the taxpayer over £55,000 a year to keep one person in prison, could society achieve better outcomes by investing that money in preventing offending instead?

This question will launch the new subject for the u3a Philosophy Group. We will explore the deeper issues it raises:

What is the purpose of punishment?

Is justice about retribution, deterrence, rehabilitation, or social wellbeing?

Should economic efficiency influence moral decisions

How do philosophers such as Bentham, Beccaria, Rawls, Nozick and Foucault help us think about alternatives to traditional punishment?

The aim is not to reach quick answers, but to examine how philosophical ideas shape the way societies respond to crime, responsibility, and human behaviour.

If you enjoy thoughtful discussion, challenging assumptions, and exploring ideas that connect everyday issues with wider philosophical traditions, you are warmly invited to join our group.