e. for murder), the offender would be placed back in category B for a future offence if they were deemed not to kill again (www.prisonersadvice.org.uk). Young offenders and women are also categorised but in different ways, however the restrictions are still the same. In 1967 the Criminal Justice Act introduced the suspended prison sentence. This type of sentence is carried out in the community and is usually given if the judge considers imposing a sentence but is less than twelve months. The set time period is given to the offender and during this time they have to abide by certain rules such as; unpaid work, curfews, exclusions, drug rehabilitation and alcohol treatment (http://www.inbrief.co.uk). In 1972 the CJA introduced the Community Service Order (CSO), these require offenders to work in the community without pay and give them the opportunity to pay something back. They are required to work between 80 and 300 hours and this is normally completed within the year. .
Throughout the 70s, 80s and 90s CSOs expanded and refined and whole plethora of community-based penalties were developed. (http://www.renfrewshire.gov.uk) However some people saw this as being 'soft' on offenders and in 1979 Margaret Thatcher attacked the 'permissive society' and the 1960s liberal values. Thatcherism and the new 'get tough' law and order brought with it huge debate. The new conservative government argued that rehabilitation and offender reforms were misguided and this led to rising crime. The conservatives brought in new detention centres and restricted parole policies for prisoners serving sentences of over 5 years (http://www.howardleague.org).
When the new labour replaced the conservatives in 1997, they continued the 'get tough' law but argued that an 'excuse culture' had developed within the youth justice system and implied that young offenders could not help their behaviour because of their social circumstances.