Plans to release prisoners early ‘endangers domestic abuse victims’ – The Independent

‘Fears have been raised that plans to release prisoners on short sentences up to two months early leave victims of domestic abuse at grave risk.’

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The Independent, 12th March 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Prisoners could be released up to two months early to ease overcrowding – BBC News

Posted March 12th, 2024 in early release, news, prisons, statistics by tracey

‘Some prisoners could be released up to two months early to relieve overcrowding in jails in England and Wales, the justice secretary has said.’

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BBC News, 12th March 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Prisoner describes ‘torture’ of indefinite jail term as he makes landmark public parole bid – The Independent

Posted March 11th, 2024 in human rights, imprisonment, mental health, news, parole, prisons by tracey

‘The first IPP prisoner to have his parole bid held in public has revealed how each day is “torture” serving a sentence with no release date.’

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The Independent, 10th March 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

New laws to crack down on online prison content – Ministry of Justice

Posted March 5th, 2024 in media, news, prisons, video recordings by tracey

‘New laws will see harmful content filmed inside prisons removed from social media platforms more quickly – shielding victims from further trauma and protecting prison security.’

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Ministry of Justice, 4th March 2024

Source: www.gov.uk

Fresh investigation launched into one of UK’s biggest abuse scandals – The Guardian

Posted February 29th, 2024 in assault, news, ombudsmen, prison officers, prisons, sexual offences, young offenders by sally

‘Investigators looking into one of the UK’s biggest abuse scandals have said they hope to find answers into how it was allowed to happen and provide “some level of closure” for the victims.’

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The Guardian, 28th February 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Calls to end the ‘living nightmare’ of indefinite jail terms ahead of crunch Lords debate – The Independent

Posted February 26th, 2024 in bills, criminal justice, human rights, imprisonment, mental health, news, prisons, sentencing by tracey

‘Mental health, human rights and criminal justice experts have made a joint plea for parliament to end the “living nightmare” of indefinite jail terms, following a series of revelations by The Independent. Thousands of prisoners have been left languishing in jail for years longer than their minimum tariff, and with no hope of release, under imprisonment for public protection (IPP) sentences – which were scrapped more than a decade ago amid human rights concerns.’

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The Independent, 26th February 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

List of prison deaths to be published in move ‘from secrecy to openness’ – The Independent

Posted February 23rd, 2024 in death in custody, disclosure, Ministry of Justice, news, ombudsmen, prisons, statistics by michael

‘The prisons and probation ombudsman (PPO) will post weekly updates identifying those who have died, the prison where they were being held and the date of their death.’

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The Independent, 22nd February 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Prisoners with mental illness wait too long for beds – BBC News

Posted February 19th, 2024 in delay, hospitals, mental health, Ministry of Justice, news, prisons, statistics by tracey

‘Prisoners with severe mental illnesses are waiting too long for hospital care, says the chief inspector of prisons.’

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BBC News, 19th February 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Current Affairs Digest: Law – House of Lords Library

‘Sentences of imprisonment for public protection (IPPs) were abolished in 2012. However, this abolition did not apply retrospectively to prisoners already serving IPPs. Recent prison population data on IPPs has shown over 1,200 prisoners have never been released. This briefing examines concerns raised by campaign groups, professional bodies and international partners about the impact of IPPs on prisoners’ release prospects and mental health.’

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House of Lords Library, 6th February 2024

Source: lordslibrary.parliament.uk

Prisoners with severe mental health needs spending months in isolation, report finds – The Guardian

Posted January 25th, 2024 in mental health, news, prisons, reports, self-harm by sally

‘A prisoner who repeatedly self-harmed spent more than 800 days in segregation, according to a damning report that reveals that jails are using isolation to manage severe mental health needs.’

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The Guardian, 25th January 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

HMP Wandsworth: Prison told to make changes after alleged escape – BBC News

Posted January 9th, 2024 in fugitive offenders, London, news, prisons, terrorism by tracey

‘Prison staff and justice officials have been told to make urgent changes after a terror suspect allegedly escaped from a south-west London jail. Daniel Khalife is accused of escaping HMP Wandsworth in September, which he denies. Justice Secretary Alex Chalk had ordered an investigation into the alleged incident, which he told MPs had now concluded.’

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BBC News, 18th January 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Prison Overcrowding: A review of recent court of appeal cases, past and future legislative changes – 2 Hare Court

Posted January 4th, 2024 in chambers articles, news, prisons, sentencing, statistics by sally

‘The number of people currently held in prison in England and Wales is at record levels. On 19 October 2023, according to figures released by the Ministry of Justice, 88,225 people were held in the prison estate.’

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2 Hare Court, 29th November 2023

Source: www.2harecourt.com

Reforms bring hope to rehabilitated people still serving abolished indefinite sentences – Ministry of Justice

‘Thousands of rehabilitated ex-prisoners serving long-since abolished indefinite sentences will become eligible to have their licence period terminated earlier as part of new reforms.’

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Ministry of Justice, 28th December 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Women in mental health crisis still being jailed in prisons deemed ‘unfit for purpose’, major review warns – The Independent

Posted November 24th, 2023 in bills, imprisonment, mental health, Ministry of Justice, news, prisons, statistics, women by tracey

‘Women dealing with severe mental illness are still being jailed despite prisons being “ill-equipped” to offer suitable care, a major review has warned.’

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The Independent, 23rd November 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Youth prisons more violent than adult male jails as assaults soar, inspections chief warns – The Independent

Posted November 21st, 2023 in news, prisons, violence, young offenders by sally

‘Young offenders’ institutions are more violent than adult male prisons and conditions are getting worse, HM Inspector of Prisons has warned, as the number of assaults soars.’

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The Independent, 21st November 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Revealed: 16 years in prison for stealing a bike and no hope of release – as 7 trapped in jail kill themselves – The Independent

‘Seven inmates trapped in prison under indefinite jail terms have taken their own lives since the government refused to resentence them, The Independent can reveal. The prisons watchdog has launched investigations into a string of self-inflicted deaths amid a “worrying rise” in incidents among imprisonment for public protection (IPP) prisoners – with campaigners warning the “hopelessness” associated with the controversial sentences is having tragic consequences.’

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The Independent, 19th November 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Rat-infested Bedford Prison found to have highest violence levels – BBC News

Posted November 17th, 2023 in government departments, health & safety, news, prisons, violence by tracey

‘Bedford Prison has higher levels of violence than any other prison in the country, according to a critical report from inspectors.’

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BBC News, 17th November 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Mother whose baby died in prison calls for end to pregnant women being jailed – The Independent

‘A mother whose baby died when she gave birth alone in her prison cell has urged ministers to stop sending pregnant women to jail.’

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The Independent, 14th November 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Criminals released from prison ‘left free to kill’ as overstretched probation service in crisis – The Independent

Posted November 14th, 2023 in murder, news, prisons, probation by sally

’59 offenders being monitored after leaving prison went on to be convicted of murder in just one year – with at least five cases blamed on failings in an overstretched probation service.’

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The Independent, 13th November 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Remand decision-making: Justice report reveals disparities in outcome for non-white defendants – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted November 10th, 2023 in bail, codes of practice, imprisonment, magistrates, news, prisons, remand, statistics by tracey

‘Magistrates are regularly not following the law when jailing people awaiting trial, according to a report being published by legal thinktank Justice today.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 9th November 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk