Ban painful restraint techniques on children, say charities – BBC News

Posted April 3rd, 2019 in children, news, prisons, restraint, young offenders by sally

‘Ministers are under growing pressure to ban the painful headlocks, wrist and arm twists that can be used to control children’s behaviour in youth prisons.’

Full Story

BBC News, 3rd April 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Abolish prison terms of under a year to ease safety crisis, say MPs – The Guardian

Posted April 3rd, 2019 in health & safety, imprisonment, news, prisons, sentencing by sally

‘Offenders should no longer be given sentences of under a year to ease the “enduring” prison safety crisis in England Wales, MPs have said in a damning report.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 3rd April 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

G4S stripped of contract to run Birmingham prison – The Guardian

Posted April 2nd, 2019 in contracting out, Ministry of Justice, news, prisons by tracey

‘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.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 1st April 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Key to prison education handed to governors – The Guardian

Posted March 26th, 2019 in education, news, prisons by sally

‘Jails in England and Wales are to take over educating their inmates – but will that increase the chances of success?’

Full Story

The Guardian, 26th March 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

R (Youngsam) v The Parole Board – Blackstone Chambers

Posted March 13th, 2019 in appeals, delay, human rights, news, parole, precedent, prisons by sally

‘The case concerned a prisoner serving a determinate sentence who had been released on licence but then recalled to prison. He complained that there had been a delay in convening a Parole Board hearing concerning his detention, and that this breached his rights under article 5(4) of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).’

Full Story

Blackstone Chambers, 27th February 2019

Source: www.blackstonechambers.com

LW, KT, MC & Faulder v Sodexo Limited & Secretary of State for Justice – Blackstone Chambers

Posted March 13th, 2019 in contracting out, human rights, news, prisons by sally

‘The High Court has today handed down judgment on the human rights obligations owed by the State to persons serving a prison sentence in a private prison.’

Full Story

Blackstone Chambers, 21st February 2019

Source: www.blackstonechambers.com

‘In probation, we’re poorly paid and the caseloads are unmanageable’ – The Guardian

‘Chris Grayling’s 2013 reforms have cost more, yet failed to cut reoffending or reduce staff shortages.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 13th March 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Youth prison put inmates in solitary confinement for up to 23 hours a day – The Guardian

‘A prison for young adults has been placed in special measures by the government after it was found that inmates were locked alone in their cells for up to 23 hours a day – a practice campaigners have described as de facto solitary confinement.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 9th March 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

First UK transgender prison unit to open – BBC News

Posted March 4th, 2019 in news, prisons, transgender persons by sally

‘The UK’s first prison unit for transgender inmates will open this week, the Ministry of Justice has said.’

Full Story

BBC News, 3rd March 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Brain injuries in women prisoners are linked to mental illness and reoffending – The Independent

Posted February 26th, 2019 in alcohol abuse, drug abuse, mental health, news, prisons, recidivists, women by tracey

‘People with traumatic brain injuries are more likely to be violent, more likely to go to prison at a younger age (and have multiple convictions) and more likely to disobey prison rules. They are also more likely to abuse alcohol and drugs, more likely to have mental health problems and more likely to attempt suicide. Surprisingly, given the vast range of negative outcomes for this type of trauma, there have been few studies on brain injury among female prisoners.’

Full Story

The Independent, 26th February 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Abolishing short prison sentences will let ‘thousands of hardened criminals avoid jail’, report claims – The Independent

‘Ministers’ calls for short prison sentences to be abolished would see thousands of hardened criminals avoid jail, a report has claimed.’

Full Story

The Independent, 25th February 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Getting home: how can Britons serving sentences overseas transfer to a British prison? – Doughty Street Chambers

‘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.’

Full Story

Doughty Street Chambers, 5th February 2019

Source: insights.doughtystreet.co.uk

‘Prison isn’t working’: David Gauke calls for end to short jail terms – The Guardian

Posted February 19th, 2019 in community service, news, prisons, recidivists, rehabilitation, sentencing, statistics by sally

‘The justice secretary has said he wants to end short prison sentences because they do not work and hopes that technology and more community sentences will provide better alternatives to jail.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 18th February 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Scandal-hit children’s prison still restraining inmates unlawfully – report – The Guardian

Posted January 31st, 2019 in children, news, prisons, restraint, young offenders by tracey

‘Staff at a scandal-hit children’s prison that was exposed for abusing its young inmates are still restraining young people unlawfully, a report from inspectors has revealed.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 30th January 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Elizabeth Adams: Prisoners’ Voting Rights: Case Closed? – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted January 30th, 2019 in elections, enfranchisement, human rights, news, prisons, Supreme Court by sally

‘On 6 December 2018, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe closed the supervision of the prisoners’ voting rights cases against the United Kingdom (UK) and adopted final resolution CM/ResDH(2018)467. Thirteen years after Hirst v United Kingdom (No.2) (2006) 42 EHRR 41 (Hirst) was made final, the protracted prisoner voting stalemate is over. Case closed. Or is it?’

Full Story

UK Constitutional Law Association, 30th January 2019

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Former prisoner sues Ministry of Justice over PTSD from rats – The Guardian

‘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.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 29th January 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Sex offenders put up in hotels as no space in bail hostels, says report – The Guardian

Posted January 24th, 2019 in bail, hotels, news, ombudsmen, prisons, probation, sexual offences, statistics by tracey

‘Sex offenders are being put up in high-street budget hotels without the knowledge of the proprietors or guests because spaces in closely monitored bail hostels are unavailable, inspectors have discovered.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 24th January 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Monitoring of abuse claims at children’s prison ‘ineffective’ – The Guardian

‘A review into the alleged abuse of children by staff at a children’s prison has found that a series of failings led to an “erratic and ineffective” monitoring of investigations into the claims.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 21st January 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Number of offenders recalled to prison surges following ‘disastrous’ probation reforms – The Independent

Posted January 18th, 2019 in bail, news, prisons, probation, rehabilitation, statistics, women by tracey

‘Ministers have been accused of pushing through “disastrous” probation reforms as it emerged the number of offenders recalled to prison for breaching bail conditions has surged by more than a quarter in four years.’

Full Story

The Independent, 17th January 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Prison sentences: Charities and probation staff union welcome proposals – BBC News

Posted January 14th, 2019 in charities, news, prisons, probation, recidivists, sentencing, statistics by tracey

‘Ministers are being warned that a proposal to scrap prison sentences of six months or less will only work if there is more investment in the probation services. The government says this approach in England and Wales’ prisons could reduce overcrowding and re-offending.’

Full Story

BBC News, 12th January 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk