David by "too soft" I mean the general treatment they receive in prison. I'm mainly talking about the UK prison system here, but it may apply elsewhere.
Since the 80s the conditions of prisons have greatly increased, which is fine, but there has been an emphasis on quality of life for prisoners (a offshoot of our post modern world, if you like) and they've gradually been given more and more liberties within prison.
Television, PS3's, phone calls, outside visits, access to drugs, food and all sorts of other niceties that perhaps negate the point of prison. Prison officers are restricted in what they can do and say to prisoners, and it's reached the point now of stupidity. They cannot swear, cannot be aggressive and cannot punish any prisoner in any form without approval from the Governor (often a bureaucrat).
Many of them live an easy life inside, they are treated like hotel guests by the Prison Service, are free for entire days to take part in whatever recreation activities are available (an increasing amount, btw), they are fed well and their nefarious activities are often overlooked, for the staff have little power to do anything, and even if they did, our bullshit government would be upset about the shit storm it may create and immediately kick start the spin engines.
My father used to be Head of Security for the Scottish Prison Service, so I have a little inside knowledge.
