FOR obvious reasons there is not a great deal of sympathy for prisoners' complaints about the conditions in jail. There is a good way to avoid the discomfort of prison, and that is to not commit the crime in the first place.
As a result, the majority don't want prison to be too comfortable. There have to be consequences for crime.
However, the Independent Monitoring Board at HMP Nottingham raises some serious issues in its latest inspection report, which are of legitimate concern.
A dramatic reduction in the number of prison officers (the Prison Officers' Association claims staff figures are down 31 per cent) and an increase in the number of prisoners, both since 2010, are causing resources to be stretched very thin.
As a result, the board says that operations at the Sherwood jail are "unsustainable" and if action is not taken, there will be "more prisoner disruption".
There have already been outbreaks of violence.
Among the problems identified are extended periods during which prisoners are locked in their cells; inmates have been unable to observe religious beliefs; the food is of poor quality; and there is a lack of access to showers.
In addition, it is claimed that attempts to rehabilitate prisoners are seriously undermined, making it more likely that they will re-offend after release.
The situation described by the monitoring board at HMP Nottingham sounds like a prison heading for a crisis. While people should be punished for their crimes, they should not be at risk while inside. And ideally, they will receive some encouragement to go straight when they leave.