---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The regime in too many prisons is one of…"
description: "\"The regime in too many prisons is one of idleness, and locking up someone from such a background in idleness virtually guarantees re-offending. Instead..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64f/ann-widdecombe-4586_day_the-regime-in-too-many-prisons-is-one-of_556154.jpg"
---

#  The regime in too many prisons is one of idleness, and…

![“The regime in too many prisons is one of idleness, and locking up someone from such a background in idleness virtually guarantees re-offending. Instead there needs to be a full day's work every weekday in either the workshops or the education department or preferably a mixture of both.” quote by Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64f/ann-widdecombe-4586_day_the-regime-in-too-many-prisons-is-one-of_556154.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64f/ann-widdecombe-4586_day_the-regime-in-too-many-prisons-is-one-of_556154.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64f/ann-widdecombe-4586_day_the-regime-in-too-many-prisons-is-one-of_556154.jpg)

> “The regime in too many prisons is one of idleness, and locking up someone from such a background in idleness virtually guarantees re-offending. Instead there needs to be a full day's work every weekday in either the workshops or the education department or preferably a mixture of both.”

[Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Idle prisoners are more likely to reoffend; structured work and education reduce recidivism.

**In simple terms:** Lack of activity leads to crime; work and learning help prevent it.

Key Takeaway

Provide daily productive activities for inmates.

Themes

rehabilitation crime prevention education work prison reform

Mood

concerned optimistic determined

Type

policy educational reform

When to use this quote

- prison work programs
- vocational training
- adult education
- community service
- rehabilitation planning

Key Concepts

recidivism social reintegration skill development behavioral economics

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we ensure programs are effective?
- What incentives encourage participation?

A Different Perspective

Success depends on quality of programs and inmate motivation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Either](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/either/) [Guarantees Offending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guarantees-offending-4619848/) [Offending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offending/) [Prison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prison/) [Prisons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prisons/) [Prisons Idleness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prisons-idleness-4619846/) [Regime Prisons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regime-prisons-4619847/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/)

## Related quotes

> [It is a huge asset to law and order that serious or persistent criminals should be taken out of the society on which they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/it-is-a-huge-asset-to-law-and-order-that-serious-or-persistent/)

[Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/)

> [The first visit I made to Australia was in 1996 when I was the prisons' minister and was looking at other countries' penal systems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/the-first-visit-i-made-to-australia-was-in-1996-when-i-was-the/)

[Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/)

> [Our society strives to avoid any possibility of offending anyone - except God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/our-society-strives-to-avoid-any-possibility-of-offending-anyone/)

[Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/)

> [The habit of pleasing by flattery makes a language soft; the fear of offending by truth makes it circuitous and conventional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-savage-landor/the-habit-of-pleasing-by-flattery-makes-a-language-soft-the-fear-of/)

[Walter Savage Landor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-savage-landor/)

> [Sometimes God offends our minds in order to reveal our hearts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wimber/sometimes-god-offends-our-minds-in-order-to-reveal-our-hearts/)

[John Wimber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wimber/)

> [The miscegenation laws of the South only operate against the legitimate union of the races; they leave the white man free to seduce all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-miscegenation-laws-of-the-south-only-operate-against-the/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I'm really proud of Gunsmoke. We put on a good show every week - one that families could all watch together without offending anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-curtis/i-m-really-proud-of-gunsmoke-we-put-on-a-good-show-every-week-one/)

[Ken Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-curtis/)

> [Justice is always Violence to the Party offending, for every Man is Innocent in his own Eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/justice-is-always-violence-to-the-party-offending-for-every-man-is/)

[Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/)

> [There is speaking well, speaking easily, speaking justly and speaking seasonably: It is offending against the last, to speak of entertainments before the indigent;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/there-is-speaking-well-speaking-easily-speaking-justly-and-speaking/)

[Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/)

> [If you are not offending people who ought to be offended, you're doing something wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-are-not-offending-people-who-ought-to-be-offended-you-re-doing/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [Be Yourself -The man who is neither bent upon pleasing his fellows nor afraid of offending them will enjoy great peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/be-yourself-the-man-who-is-neither-bent-upon-pleasing-his-fellows-nor/)

[Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/)

> [There is a strange taboo in our society against ending something merely because it is not pleasant-- life, love, a conversation, you name it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dewitt/there-is-a-strange-taboo-in-our-society-against-ending-something/)

[Helen DeWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dewitt/)

> [It takes strong ears indeed to hear ourselves judged frankly, and because there are few who can endure criticism without being stung by it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/it-takes-strong-ears-indeed-to-hear-ourselves-judged-frankly-and/)

[Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/)

> [He would be guilty of mortal sin, because he exposes himself to the danger of grievously offending God. Hence, before he acts he must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonsus-liguori/he-would-be-guilty-of-mortal-sin-because-he-exposes-himself-to-the/)

[Alphonsus Liguori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonsus-liguori/)

> [In order to the attaining of all useful knowledge this is most necessary, that we fear God; we are not qualified to profit by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/in-order-to-the-attaining-of-all-useful-knowledge-this-is-most/)

[Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/)

## More by Ann Widdecombe

> [It is quite wrong that one group of people should regularly and deliberately flout the law, boast about it and get away with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/it-is-quite-wrong-that-one-group-of-people-should-regularly-and/)

[Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/)

> [In the 1990s, while the Maastricht debate was raging, I was a minister in the Major government. Every single piece of legislation we proposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/in-the-1990s-while-the-maastricht-debate-was-raging-i-was-a-minister/)

[Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/)

> [I cannot bear the language TV chefs use - they don't seem able to look at a plate of vegetables without accusing it of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/i-cannot-bear-the-language-tv-chefs-use-they-don-t-seem-able-to-look/)

[Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/)

> [I am not an enthusiast when it comes to cities, preferring rolling scenery, wildlife and stars to museums, monuments, architecture and traffic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/i-am-not-an-enthusiast-when-it-comes-to-cities-preferring-rolling/)

[Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/)

> [Believing in God was something I took as much for granted as the air I breathed. Religion wasn't something that came out of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/believing-in-god-was-something-i-took-as-much-for-granted-as-the-air/)

[Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/)

> [I think the rest of the world will think we're made, and indeed we are. We've turned out the greatest Prime Minister in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/i-think-the-rest-of-the-world-will-think-we-re-made-and-indeed-we-are/)

[Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/)

> [In 1999 my father died and my mother was coming to live with me. So I left my Kennington flat and bought a house…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/in-1999-my-father-died-and-my-mother-was-coming-to-live-with-me-so-i/)

[Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/)

> [Cats are ideal for politicians. I had two when I arrived at Westminster, Sooty and Sweep, who had come with a flat I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/cats-are-ideal-for-politicians-i-had-two-when-i-arrived-at/)

[Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/)

> [If I were queen for a day, every city would have to spend one hour in utter silence: no music in shops and restaurants,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/if-i-were-queen-for-a-day-every-city-would-have-to-spend-one-hour-in/)

[Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/)

> [The postcode lottery means that the level of care you get differs hugely around the country, and the health service simply cannot meet every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/the-postcode-lottery-means-that-the-level-of-care-you-get-differs/)

[Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/)

> [Almost anybody from the past will hold views discordant with the present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/almost-anybody-from-the-past-will-hold-views-discordant-with-the/)

[Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/)

> [The Arctic has huge glaciers, frozen waterfalls and floating ice. This is scenery on which man has left no mark, which has stayed unchanged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/the-arctic-has-huge-glaciers-frozen-waterfalls-and-floating-ice-this/)

[Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/)

> [Always carry a handkerchief. Especially in television studios.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/always-carry-a-handkerchief-especially-in-television-studios/)

[Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/)

> [I suspect my own journey to Brexit has closely followed that of Britain's. I had doubts, then I decided we should stay in, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/i-suspect-my-own-journey-to-brexit-has-closely-followed-that-of/)

[Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/)

> [I am a Conservative: I'm never going to be anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/i-am-a-conservative-i-m-never-going-to-be-anything-else/)

[Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/)

[Explore all 109 Ann Widdecombe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/)

## More Day quotes

> [On Sundays, that's my pig out day and I do the pizza and the beer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-silvstedt/on-sundays-that-s-my-pig-out-day-and-i-do-the-pizza-and-the-beer/)

[Victoria Silvstedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-silvstedt/)

> [I don't drink much anymore, but when I traveled with Frank Sinatra, God rest his soul, I used to drink like I could do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-don-t-drink-much-anymore-but-when-i-traveled-with-frank-sinatra-god/)

[Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/)

> [I would borrow money all day long, if the cost of borrowing is less than the expected return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/i-would-borrow-money-all-day-long-if-the-cost-of-borrowing-is-less/)

[Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/)

> [I had developed a relationship with one of the anti-abortion sidewalk counselors who stood in front of my facility. We talked regularly through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-johnson/i-had-developed-a-relationship-with-one-of-the-anti-abortion-sidewalk/)

[Abby Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-johnson/)

> [I loved the game so much that even though our playing field was muddy and we had many trees on it, I used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-clemente/i-loved-the-game-so-much-that-even-though-our-playing-field-was-muddy/)

[Roberto Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-clemente/)

> [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/)

[Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/)

> [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/)

[Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/)

> [I want to make my music and be a happy woman, a good wife, a good mom and one day hopefully have a child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leann-rimes/i-want-to-make-my-music-and-be-a-happy-woman-a-good-wife-a-good-mom/)

[LeAnn Rimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leann-rimes/)

> [Valentine's Day: Rubbing singles' noses in their lack of a mate and the noses of couples in their lack of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-mclaughlin/valentine-s-day-rubbing-singles-noses-in-their-lack-of-a-mate-and-the/)

[Emma McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-mclaughlin/)

> [One day I woke up and Juventus wanted me, another Manchester United and what I know is that there were approaches made. But an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raul-jimenez/one-day-i-woke-up-and-juventus-wanted-me-another-manchester-united/)

[Raul Jimenez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raul-jimenez/)

> [I think naturally I've been kind of a lead-by-doing guy. Just showing up to work every day. You never ask teammates something you wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-suggs/i-think-naturally-i-ve-been-kind-of-a-lead-by-doing-guy-just-showing/)

[Terrell Suggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-suggs/)

> [For 11 straight years, I woke up pretty much every single day with nothing to do unless I created something to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-rife/for-11-straight-years-i-woke-up-pretty-much-every-single-day-with/)

[Matt Rife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-rife/)

> [I have tremendous admiration for companies with the kind of pioneering spirit and innovation eBay has demonstrated from day one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-hammer/i-have-tremendous-admiration-for-companies-with-the-kind-of/)

[Bonnie Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-hammer/)

> [Being under-recruited coming out of Highland, I've carried that with me. I keep pushing forward, keep working hard every day, keep my head on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-daniels/being-under-recruited-coming-out-of-highland-i-ve-carried-that-with/)

[Mike Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-daniels/)

> [You can't cheat comedy. You know, it either is going to be there on the day you capture or it's not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lin/you-can-t-cheat-comedy-you-know-it-either-is-going-to-be-there-on-the/)

[Justin Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lin/)

[Browse all 18,587 Day quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The regime in too many prisons is one of idleness, and locking up someone from such a background in idleness virtually guarantees re-offending. Instead there needs to be a full day's work every weekday in either the workshops or the education department or preferably a mixture of both.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ann Widdecombe"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/the-regime-in-too-many-prisons-is-one-of-idleness-and-locking-up/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Day"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/the-regime-in-too-many-prisons-is-one-of-idleness-and-locking-up/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64f/ann-widdecombe-4586_day_the-regime-in-too-many-prisons-is-one-of_556154.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64f/ann-widdecombe-4586_day_the-regime-in-too-many-prisons-is-one-of_556154.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64f/ann-widdecombe-4586_day_the-regime-in-too-many-prisons-is-one-of_556154.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The regime in too many prisons is one of idleness, and locking up someone from such a background in idleness…” — Ann Widdecombe",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Ann Widdecombe",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The regime in too many prisons...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/the-regime-in-too-many-prisons-is-one-of-idleness-and-locking-up/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/the-regime-in-too-many-prisons-is-one-of-idleness-and-locking-up/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
