All prisoners should be allowed to wear their own clothes because transgender inmates can, inspectors say – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 5th, 2017 in freedom of expression, news, prisons, reports, transgender persons by tracey

‘Prisoners should be allowed to wear their own clothes in jail because transgender inmates are allowed to wear dresses and make-up, inspectors have said.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 5th January 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

HMP Birmingham riot shows public and private jails are in crisis – The Guardian

Posted December 20th, 2016 in criminal justice, drug abuse, news, prisons, violent disorder by sally

‘It is no surprise that the prison authorities are closely monitoring every jail in England and Wales for signs of potential unrest after the riot at HMP Birmingham on Friday.’

Full story

The Guardian, 19th December 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Prisoner jailed for 45 years over letters threatening to kill people – The Guardian

Posted December 15th, 2016 in harassment, mental health, news, prisons, sentencing, threatening behaviour by tracey

‘A prison inmate who wrote a series of letters from his cell threatening to kill 10 people, including prison staff and police officers, and then have sex with their corpses has been jailed for 45 years.’

Full story

the Guardian, 14th December 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Our prisons are overflowing with immature and vulnerable men – The Guardian

‘Young men don’t mature psychologically until their mid-20s. Condemning so many to the toxic environment of our jails is a recipe for reoffending and suicide.’

Full story

The Guardian, 1st December 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lord Chief Justice: Community service is not tough enough and needs to be a more visible punishment – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 1st, 2016 in community service, judges, news, penalties, prisons, rehabilitation, sentencing by sally

‘Community service is not tough enough and needs to be a more visible punishment, Britain’s most senior judge has suggested as he says offenders view non-jail sentences as “getting off” free.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 30th November 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

We warned that the prisoners could riot. But the minister didn’t listen – The Guardian

Posted November 30th, 2016 in criminal justice, news, prisons, violent disorder by tracey

‘A member of the Independent Monitoring Board at HMP Bedford raised the alarm about its perilous conditions, and wants an urgent rethink about jails.’

Full story

The Guardian, 30th November 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

EU prisoners deal ‘has not met expectations’ – BBC News

Posted November 30th, 2016 in news, prisons, select committees, transfer of prisoners by tracey

‘A deal to move EU prisoners in England and Wales to their home countries has not worked out “well”, MPs have heard.’

Full story

BBC News, 29th November 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Prison suicides hit all-time high: 2016 is deadliest year as one inmate takes own life every three days – The Independent

Posted November 28th, 2016 in news, prisons, statistics, suicide by tracey

‘More prisoners than ever before are taking their own lives, with 2016 already the worst year ever recorded for suicides in prison, according to new figures released today.’

Full story

The Independent, 27th November 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Serving prisoner to spend longer in prison after sexually assaulting another inmate – Attorney General’s Office

Posted November 23rd, 2016 in press releases, prisons, sentencing, sexual offences by tracey

‘Court of Appeal has increased the sentence of serving prisoner following Attorney General referral.’

Full press release

Attorney General’s Office, 22nd November 2016

Source: www.gov.uk/ago

Top judge urges tougher community service as alternative to prison – The Guardian

‘Fewer criminals should be jailed and tougher community punishments developed as an alternative to imprisonment, the lord chief justice has urged.’

Full story

The Guardian, 22nd November 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Fewer prison officers and more assaults: how UK prison staffing has changed – The Guardian

Posted November 21st, 2016 in news, prison officers, prisons, violence by sally

‘This week’s walkouts by prison officers were in protest at staff shortages and escalating violence – and the data shows that the ratio of staff to offenders has indeed dropped in the last few years.’

Full story

The Guardian, 18th November 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Justice secretary under pressure from Gove to cut prison population – The Guardian

Posted November 17th, 2016 in imprisonment, ministers' powers and duties, news, prisons, reports, sentencing by sally

‘The UK justice secretary, Liz Truss, has come under severe pressure from her predecessor, Michael Gove, and the chief inspector of prisons to take urgent action to cut the prison population.’

Full story

The Guardian, 17th November 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Women in Prison: 5 Key Recommendations – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted November 16th, 2016 in cautions, media, news, police, prisons, rehabilitation, women by sally

‘On Tuesday 8 November 2016, Halsbury’s Law Exchange (HLE) hosted a panel discussion on the urgent topic of: “Women in Prison: is the justice system fit for purpose?” In the lead up to the panel discussion, Felicity Gerry QC and Lyndon Harris co-authored a discussion paper on this vital question.’

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 10th November 2016

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

One in four prisons hold transgender inmates, says Ministry of Justice report – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 10th, 2016 in news, prisons, reports, transgender persons by sally

‘One in four prisons in England and Wales are holding transgender inmates, an official report has revealed.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 9th November 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Women in prison: is the justice system fit for purpose? Notes from the panel discussion – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted November 10th, 2016 in criminal justice, news, prisons, sentencing, women by sally

‘In 2014 a Halsbury Law Exchange panel debated “Women in prison: is the penal system fit for purpose” – the answer to which was a resounding no. Despite panellist (the then MP) Simon Hughes committing to effect change as a result of that discussion the law still hasn’t made the headway hoped for in this area.’

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 10th November 2016

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

The criminology course opening the door to education for prisoners – The Guardian

Posted November 10th, 2016 in crime, legal education, news, prisons, rehabilitation, universities by sally

‘Side by side, Cambridge postgraduates and inmates at a Buckinghamshire prison mull over thorny issues, such as what is legitimate use of power, or why do people obey the law? They are studying criminology together within the walls of HMP Grendon, in small, carefully mixed groups. Over eight weeks they are treated as equals by academic staff; once a week they read, study, discuss and write essays before “graduating” together – though this master’s level study doesn’t carry official university credits.’

Full story

The Guardian, 9th November 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Women in prison: is the justice system fit for purpose? – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted November 7th, 2016 in criminal justice, news, prisons, women by sally

‘Felicity Gerry QC and Lyndon Harris, in partnership with Halsbury’s Law Exchange, have spent the last three years researching sentencing and treatment of female offenders within the criminal justice system to determine whether there is a true and principled case for reform.’

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 3rd November 2016

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Justice Secretary calls time on failing prisons in white paper to help cut crime and protect society – Ministry of Justice

‘Justice Secretary embarks on a major shake-up of prisons to help cut £15bn cost of reoffending.’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 3rd November 2016

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Prisons in England and Wales get boost of 2,500 new staff to tackle violence -The Guardian

‘An extra 2,500 frontline prison staff are to be recruited to tackle soaring levels of gang violence, drug abuse and attacks on staff and inmates inside prisons across England and Wales, the justice secretary is to announce.’

Full story

The Guardian, 2nd November 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

New crisis in prisons as suicides hit record levels – The Guardian

Posted October 31st, 2016 in news, prisons, self-harm, suicide, violence by sally

‘Suicides in prison have reached “epidemic” proportions, with rates of self-harm and violence soaring to unprecedented levels. In addition, experts say the situation in women’s jails is now worse than a decade ago, when a landmark report was commissioned amid widespread concerns about deteriorating standards.’

Full story

The Guardian, 29th October 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk