Cherie Booth is calling for the expansion of schemes which put criminals face-to-face with their victims so they can apologise.
Ms Booth, who spent 10 years sentencing offenders while sitting in courts as a Recorder, will tell Wednesday night's Radio 4 programme Lent Talk that restorative justice should be used routinely for assault, robbery and theft.
The Prime Minister's wife will also say it could be used in cases of domestic violence and sexual assault, where appropriate.
Ms Booth said, while sentencing, she often wondered if an offender felt any remorse or thought about the effect on their victim.
"This impression has been reinforced when I have visited prisons and spoken to inmates," she said.
"It seems that neither the court process nor the prison experience is helping them confront their behaviour or its consequences.
"It is clear that simply locking people up does not itself alter their long-term behaviour.
"In too many cases, it simply shelves the problem."
The Home Office is piloting restorative justice schemes in prisons and the community and Ms Booth will say they are not a soft option but encourage offenders to make a fresh start.
