‘Numbers of knife and offensive weapon offences have risen to their highest level for nearly a decade, with the number of cases dealt with by the criminal justice system up by more than a third since 2015, figures have revealed.’
The Guardian, 13th June 2019
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘A single offender has been sentenced to almost 200 jail terms of less than six months in their lifetime, new figures reveal, renewing calls for an overhaul of the justice system to curb the use of ineffective short sentences. The highest number of previous immediate prison sentences of under six months given to an offender sentenced in 2018 in England and Wales was 198, according to a response to a freedom of information request submitted by the charity Revolving Doors.’
The Guardian, 23rd May 2019
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘The Sentencing (Pre-consolidation Amendment) Bill has been introduced into Parliament. This short technical Bill is necessary to pave the way for the main Sentencing Code Bill to be introduced as a consolidation Bill. Once passed, the Sentencing Code will introduce a “clean sweep” of the old sentencing law so that anyone convicted once the Code is in force would automatically be sentenced under the current law.’
Law Commission, 23rd May 2019
Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk/
‘Offenders have been locked in an “expensive merry-go-round” by a key plank of Chris Grayling’s disastrous probation overhaul, which has failed to reduce reoffending, a watchdog has said.’
The Guardian, 21st May 2019
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Family courts in England and Wales are not properly accommodating children’s voices and needs because the government has suggested “it would all cost too much”, their former head has said.’
BBC News, 16th May 2019
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘Private prisons are more violent than public jails, according to data analysis that raises questions over the government’s plans to pursue its prisons-for-profit model.’
The Guardian, 13th May 2019
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘A specialist taskforce to tackle staff corruption in jails has been announced by Justice Secretary David Gauke today (4 May 2019).’
Ministry of Justice, 4th May 2019
Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice
‘Chris Grayling’s widely derided changes to the supervision of a quarter of a million offenders in the community were rushed through at breakneck speed, taking “unacceptable risks” with taxpayers’ money, a spending watchdog has said.’
The Guardian, 3rd May 2019
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Thousands of prison staff have been subject to disciplinary action in the past five years, including for relationships with inmates, assaulting prisoners and racism.’
Daily Telegraph, 29th April 2019
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
‘G4S is to be permanently stripped of its contract to run Birmingham prison after the government was forced to take control of the failing jail.’
The Guardian, 1st April 2019
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Rule changes are on the way addressing concerns that lawyers may be keeping litigants in the dark about important court updates.’
Law Society's Gazette, 26th February 2019
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘The Ministry of Justice recently updated its guidance for UK nationals who are serving sentences in prisons overseas, and who may wish to serve the remainder of their sentences in the UK. You can read that guidance by clicking here. But what are the conditions which must be met, and what are the practical steps which might be taken to help a UK national serve the remainder of their sentence in their own country? Christopher Sykes from our Criminal Law and Appeals Team looks at how to go about achieving this.’
Doughty Street Chambers, 5th February 2019
Source: insights.doughtystreet.co.uk
‘The Ministry of Justice has been accused of betraying those campaigning to ensure an equality of arms between bereaved families and the state at inquests.’
Law Society's Gazette, 8th February 2019
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘The Ministry of Justice sweetened its long-awaited review of swingeing legal aid cuts with a pledge to spend £8m on legal support and litigants in person. But does its response go far enough?’
Law Society's Gazette, 11th February 2019
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘The Ministry of Justice knew its court computer systems were “obsolete” and “out of support” long before the network went into meltdown last week, internal documents have revealed.’
The Guardian, 28th January 2019
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘A man is suing the prison service after he developed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from rats running across his body and bed while he was locked in his cell, the Guardian has learned.’
The Guardian, 29th January 2019
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘The computer network collapse that disrupted courts across England and Wales for days has prompted calls for compensation and improved funding for the beleaguered criminal justice system.’
The Guardian, 23rd January 2019
Source: www.theguardian.com
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