‘Britain’s blanket ban on prisoners being allowed to vote is expected to be ruled unlawful on Tuesday morning by the EU’s highest court, challenging David Cameron’s long defiance of similar human rights rulings.’
The Guardian, 6th October 2015
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
‘Prison governors could be given greater powers to educate, punish and reform inmates under plans being considered by Michael Gove to relax the grip of Whitehall on the penal system.’
The Guardian, 3rd October 2015
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
‘David Cameron has ruled out making reparations for Britain’s role in the historic slave trade and urged Caribbean countries to “move on”.’
BBC News, 30th September 2015
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘A complete ban on smoking in prisons in England and Wales is to be phased in from January, despite warnings from prison governors that it risked making jails more unstable.’
The Guardian, 29th September 2015
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
‘Prisoners’ confidential legal letters to and from their lawyers and the courts have been wrongly opened by prison staff in half of cases investigated by the prisons ombudsman in the past year.’
The Guardian, 29th September 2015
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
‘The last British resident being held in Guantanamo Bay is to be returned to the UK, the government has said.’
BBC News, 25th September 2015
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘A high level of violence inside Cookham Wood youth jail, including 61 assaults and 92 fights within just six months, reflects systemic problems in young offenders institutions across England, prison inspectors have warned.’
The Guardian, 22nd September 2015
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
‘Drones operated by organised crime gangs pose an increasing threat to security in Britain’s prisons by offering a new route to smuggle drugs and potentially firearms into the hands of criminals, senior officials have admitted.’
The Guardian, 16th September 2015
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
‘Broadmoor Hospital has been told to make urgent changes after a report which highlighted the “overuse” of face-down restraints on patients. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated the high-security hospital in Berkshire “inadequate” after an inspection.’
BBC News, 16th September 2015
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘A review of prison education to examine how it supports rehabilitation of different types of prison learners.’
Ministry of Justice, 11th September 2015
Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice
‘The outcry over the new financial penalties for anyone convicted of a crime presents Michael Gove with a crucial test of his willingness to jettison flawed policies inherited from Chris Grayling, his predecessor as Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor.’
The Independent, 11th September 2015
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘The deaths of four inmates in cells at Winchester prison in two months has prompted an investigation.’
BBC News, 10th September 2015
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘Michael Gove has taken the first steps in his plans to introduce an “earned release” scheme for prisoners in England and Wales by announcing a major review of education provisions in jails.’
The Guardian, 8th September 2015
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
‘Billions of pounds would be saved and crime would fall if the prison population were slashed by more than half, a penal reform charity claims.’
The Independent, 7th September 2015
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘The below article by Philip Rule, barrister at No5 Chambers, aims to offer a new potential for those with learning disability and/or autism, their families, and the many charities and NGOs that fight for the rights of these groups, to ensure things are improved for such individuals.’
No. 5 Chambers, 2nd September 2015
Source: www.no5.com
‘Greece is not alone in suffering from budget cuts arising from the era of austerity. In the UK, local councils, libraries, museums – all public services have been cut. Criminal Justice has not escaped this cost-cutting. The consequence has been fewer police officers on the streets, less money for legal aid lawyers, and closures of Magistrates courts. Prisons too have been hit; the government has reduced the amount it spends running correctional facilities. This has meant fewer programs and services for prisoners, more austere prisons as well as more work for fewer prison officers.’
OUP Blog, 28th August 2015
Source: www.blog.oup.com
‘The number of the most dangerous male prisoners in England being held in a special “jail within a jail” system has doubled over the past decade, inspectors have revealed.’
The Guardian, 25th August 2015
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
It is plain that across the board there is a desire for change in relation to women and criminal justice. Many examples exists of wonderful, creative, worthwhile and even evidently successful projects in relation to diverting women away from custody and improving conditions for women who lose their liberty. Research related to women and criminal justice is ongoing from a range of respected and vociferous advocates such as Women’s Breakout, The Prison Reform Trust, Women in Prison and Halsbury’s Law Exchange to name but a few – many working together to effect change. There is no doubt that evidence and recommendations from each of these respected bodies – and more alongside them – will call for real change, offering genuine educated and reasonable arguments for doing so. However arguably (at least for now), the real “power” lies with the Courts, ergo it is the Courts who need to be at the vanguard of change.
Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 3rd August 2015
Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk
‘Research surrounding the imprisonment of women, indeed even the imprisonment of mothers, is not new. A plethora of researchers and scholars have explored the issues surrounding women and criminal justice with passion and tenacity, arguably all of whom have contributed to the evidence-laden pathway culminating in the inspirational and influential 2006 Corston Report.’
Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 31st July 2015
Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk
‘More than 80 per cent of female prisoners have been locked up for non-violent offences such as shoplifting, new figures show, as a drive is launched to clear jails of women who pose no danger to the public.’
The Independent, 29th July 2015
Source: www.independent.co.uk
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