Putting someone in prison can be an upsetting business but it can also feed the power-grabbing side of one’s personality. I faced these two contrasting emotions a couple of weeks back when I made a decision – with two other magistrates – to detain a 20 year old for 9 weeks.

The circumstances were simple enough – this young man had caused criminal damage to a number of cars and had been sentenced to a community order that involved undertaking unpaid work in the community. However, he turned up for his pre-work assessment saying that he had no intention whatsoever of completing the order. He had given the same message to his solicitor on the day of his re-appearance in court; he preferred a short period in prison than spending weeks on end completing tasks in the community. In these circumstances we had little option – and so he got his 9 weeks.

It was an upsetting experience for me though, not so much because of a deep concern for this man having to spend time inside, but because of the way he was obviously wasting his life and his potential and had such a disregard for his future. How does anyone get so hardened at such a young age?

But as I reflected upon that decision I also had to face up to the fact that the feeling of power I had in my hands was immense – and something I enjoyed having.  Yet if I am to do my job as a JP well – and if I am to do so as a follower of Jesus – then this is something I must watch and take care that it does not harm my decision making or my witness.

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