Prisoners to challenge indeterminate sentences at UK supreme court – The Guardian

‘The supreme court will hear a challenge by four offenders on Monday who allege that indeterminate sentences infringe the rights of prisoners if they are unable to get on to rehabilitative courses.

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The Guardian, 19th May 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Plan for Europe’s biggest children’s prison ‘would put young offenders at increased risk of harm or death’ – The Independent

Posted May 12th, 2014 in bills, children, news, prisons, young offenders by sally

‘Controversial plans to build Europe’s biggest children’s prison in the Midlands would put young offenders at increased risk of harm and even death, campaigners warned last night.’

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The Independent, 11th May 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

From jail to jihad? The threat of prison radicalisation – BBC News

Posted May 12th, 2014 in ASBOs, Islam, news, prisons, terrorism by sally

‘The head of the prison and probation service says there is a small but “significant risk” of Muslim prisoners becoming radicalised. Panorama spoke to one convict who was met by Islamic extremists when he was released from prison.’

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BBC News, 12th May 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Prison book ban may face legal challenge – BBC News

Posted May 7th, 2014 in news, prisons, rehabilitation, time limits by sally

‘A government policy that bans books being sent to prisoners in England and Wales may face a legal challenge.’

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BBC News, 7th May 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Regina (Lee-Hirons) v Secretary of State for Justice and another – WLR Daily

Posted May 6th, 2014 in appeals, detention, law reports, mental health, prisons, reasons by sally

Regina (Lee-Hirons) v Secretary of State for Justice and another: [2014] EWCA Civ 514; [2014] WLR (D) 183

‘Where the Secretary of State recalled a person to be detained in hospital under section 42(3) of the Mental Health Act 1983, the Secretary of State was not under a duty at common law nor under article 5.1 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms to give his reasons for the person’s detention immediately when he was detained and thus such reasons were not required to be given in writing upon detention. However, article 5.2 required those reasons to be adequately and promptly given to him following his detention.’

WLR Daily, 1st May 2014

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Review after ‘Skull Cracker’ Michael Wheatley absconds – BBC News

Posted May 6th, 2014 in fugitive offenders, news, prisons, release on licence by sally

‘A review has been ordered after an armed robber dubbed “the Skull Cracker” went missing when he was temporarily allowed out of an open prison.’

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BBC news, 5th May 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Salford prison van escape gang jailed for armed ambush – BBC News

‘An armed gang who crashed a car into a prison van to free two men have been jailed by Manchester Crown Court.’

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BBC News, 29th April 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Triple killer wins £800 after belongings are damaged in prison move – The Guardian

Posted April 28th, 2014 in compensation, delay, news, ombudsmen, prison officers, prisons by sally

‘A triple killer has won £800 in compensation after some of his belongings, including nose hair clippers, cranberry juice and an alarm clock, were lost or broken in prison.’

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The Guardian, 28th April 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Wakefield Prison nurse Karen Cosford struck off register – BBC News

‘A prison nurse who had an affair with a rapist at Wakefield Prison has been ordered to be struck off the register.’

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BBC News, 23rd April 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Passive smoking in prison not a breach of human rights – Court of Appeal – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted April 15th, 2014 in appeals, detention, human rights, news, prisons, smoking by sally

‘Smith, R (on the application of v Secretary of State for Justice and G4S UK Ltd [2014] EWCA Civ 380. This case raises the question of whether it is a breach of a non-smoking prisoner’s Convention right to respect for his private life and to equality of access to such rights (ECHR Articles 8 and 14) to compel him to share a cell with a smoker.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 14th April 2014

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Brazuks v Prosecutor General’s Office, Republic of Latvia; Zibala v Prosecutor General’s Office, Republic of Latvia; Sinicins v Prosecutor General’s Office, Republic of Latvia – WLR Daily

Posted April 10th, 2014 in appeals, extradition, human rights, law reports, prisons by sally

Brazuks v Prosecutor General’s Office, Republic of Latvia; Zibala v Prosecutor General’s Office, Republic of Latvia; Sinicins v Prosecutor General’s Office, Republic of Latvia [2014] EWHC 1021 (Admin); [2014] WLR (D) 160

‘The state of the Latvian prison estate was not such as to produce a real risk that there would be a breach of article 3 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms if extradition were directed.’

WLR Daily, 9th April 2014

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Shocking justice gap for disabled prisoners – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

‘It is Prison Service policy that prisons provide a fair and equal service to all prisoners, including to those who are disabled. The purpose of this policy is to make sure that the Prison Service meets its obligations under the Equality Act 2010 (EqA). However, for many disabled prisoners, these obligations are not being met.’

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Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 4th April 2014

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Prison officers’ failings contributed to vulnerable boy’s death, inquest rules – The Guardian

‘An inquest jury has found multiple failings by staff at a young offender institution contributed to the death of a 17-year-old boy, who had been bullied by other inmates.’

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The Guardian, 4th April 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Milly Dowler’s killer Levi Bellfield awarded £4,500 over prison attack – Daily Telegraph

Posted April 4th, 2014 in assault, compensation, news, prisons by sally

‘The Ministry of Justice is ‘hugely disappointed’ that the triple murderer will receive taxpayer funded compensation.’

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Daily Telegraph, 4th April 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Prison books row: justice secretary could face legal action, says lawyer – The Guardian

Posted April 1st, 2014 in education, news, prisons, rehabilitation by sally

‘Campaigners fighting the Ministry of Justice over a ban on books being sent to prisoners on Monday threatened to take their battle to the courts.’

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The Guardian, 31st March 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Prisoners’ Legal Aid, Malayan Killings and the Role of the Judiciary – the Human Rights Roundup – UK Human Rights Blog

‘This week, a challenge to the legal aid reforms by the Howard League for Penal Reform is rejected, while campaigners seeking an inquiry into the action of British soldiers in Malaya in 1948 face similar disappointment. Meanwhile, some of the most senior judges in the UK give their views on the role of the judiciary today.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 23rd March 2014

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

‘Giant’ criminal Jude Medcalf freed as jail bed too small – BBC News

Posted March 27th, 2014 in community service, disabled persons, firearms, human rights, news, prisons by sally

‘A 7ft 2ins-tall (2.2m) criminal has been released from custody after a judge accepted prison beds and uniforms were too small for him.’

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The Guardian, 26th March 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Justice Minister Chris Grayling defends prisoner book rules – BBC News

Posted March 25th, 2014 in education, news, prisons, rehabilitation by sally

‘Justice Secretary Chris Grayling says new prison policies are not denying inmates access to books, despite criticisms from high-profile authors.’

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BBC News, 25th March 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Griffiths v Secretary of State for Justice (Equality and Human Rights Commission intervening): Coll v Secretary of State for Justice (Equality and Human Rights Commission intervening) – WLR Daily

Posted March 20th, 2014 in law reports, prisons, release on licence, sex discrimination, women by sally

Griffiths v Secretary of State for Justice (Equality and Human Rights Commission intervening): Coll v Secretary of State for Justice (Equality and Human Rights Commission intervening); [2013] EWHC 4077 (Admin);   [2014] WLR (D)  136

‘The Secretary of State for Justice had not discriminated, directly or indirectly, in the performance of his functions of providing approved premises for women released from prison on licence.’

WLR daily 19th December 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Unsuccessful challenge to prison law legal aid cuts to be appealed – LegalVoice

Posted March 18th, 2014 in appeals, legal aid, news, prisons by sally

‘The Howard League and the Prisoners’ Advice Service (PAS) this morning announced that they will appeal a decision by the High Court to dismiss their challenge to legal aid cuts for prisoners.’

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LegalVoice, 17th March 2014

Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk