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 sally

‘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 sally

‘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 sally

‘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 sally

‘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

As many as 10 sex offenders released into the community every day, new figures reveal – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 28th, 2016 in news, prisons, probation, sexual offences, statistics by sally

‘As many as 10 sex offenders are released into the community everyday, according to new figures.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 27th October 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Prison violence epidemic partly due to staff cuts, MoJ admits – The Guardian

Posted October 28th, 2016 in budgets, Ministry of Justice, news, prisons, violence by sally

‘The Ministry of Justice has explicitly acknowledged that staff cuts are a factor in the rising tide of violence in prisons in England and Wales.’

Full story

The Guardian, 27th October 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Prison reforms ‘simply not achievable’ amid ‘loss of control’ – BBC News

Posted October 21st, 2016 in homicide, news, prisons, suicide by sally

‘The government’s ambitious prison reform plans are “simply not achievable”, the former chief inspector of prisons has warned.’

Full story

BBC News, 20th October 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Prison inquiry demanded by governors after ‘unprecedented’ rise in violence – BBC News

Posted October 12th, 2016 in inquiries, news, prisons by sally

‘The Prison Governors Association has called on the government to set up an independent public inquiry into the state of prisons in England and Wales.’

Full story

BBC News, 12th October 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Government pledges 400 extra prison officers for country’s toughest jails – The Independent

Posted October 4th, 2016 in drug abuse, news, prison officers, prisons, speeches by sally

‘The Government is pledging £14m to pay for 400 prison officers who will help tackle drugs and violence in the country’s toughest prisons.’

Full story

The Independent, 4th October 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk