UK to resist giving prisoners the vote despite European court ruling – The Guardian

Posted May 24th, 2012 in delay, elections, human rights, news, prisons by sally

“David Cameron believes he will be able to resist implementing a ruling from the European court of human rights that prisoners must be granted the right to vote during his time in Downing Street.”

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The Guardian, 23rd May 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Ken Clarke: popular press to blame for thousands of criminals being in jail needlessly – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 24th, 2012 in lord chancellor, media, news, prisons by sally

“Justice Secretary Ken Clarke has blamed the popular press for putting thousands of criminals in jail who do not need to be there.”

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Daily Telegraph, 23rd May 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

European Court of Human Rights retreats but doesn’t surrender on prisoner votes – UK Human Rights

Posted May 23rd, 2012 in elections, human rights, news, prisons, rule of law by sally

“The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights has ruled that states must allow for at least some prisoners to vote, but that states have a wide discretion as to deciding which prisoners. This amounts to a retreat on prisoner votes, but certainly no surrender. As I predicted, the court reaffirmed the principles set out in Hirst No. 2, that an automatic and indiscriminate bans breach the European Convention on Human Rights, but also reaffirmed that it was up to states to decide how to remove those indiscriminate bans.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 22nd May 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Prisoners must be given right to vote, European court rules – The Guardian

Posted May 23rd, 2012 in elections, human rights, news, prisons, rule of law by sally

“Prisoners in the UK must be given the right to vote, the European court of human rights (ECHR) has ruled, though ministers may determine which inmates should be enfranchised.”

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The Guardian, 22nd May 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Strasbourg’s prisoner votes judgment amounts to a retreat, but no surrender – The Guardian

Posted May 23rd, 2012 in elections, human rights, news, prisons, rule of law by sally

“The government should now accept its responsibilities under the human rights convention. Any other reaction will significantly harm the rule of law.”

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The Guardian, 22nd May 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Prisoners could get vote within six months if UK loses last legal battle in Europe – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 22nd, 2012 in elections, human rights, news, prisons by sally

“David Cameron could be forced to give prisoners the vote within six months if the Government loses a last ditch legal challenge today.”

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Daily Telegraph, 22nd May 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Will the human rights court throw Britain a lifeline on prisoner votes? – The Guardian

Posted May 21st, 2012 in elections, human rights, jurisdiction, news, prisons by sally

“If Strasbourg upholds its previous judgments, Cameron shouldn’t expect the bill of rights commission to come to his rescue.”

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The Guardian, 21st May 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Warning over prison release delay – BBC News

Posted May 14th, 2012 in budgets, compensation, delay, news, parole, prisons, recidivists by sally

“There is a risk of jail disturbances and compensation claims due to delays in assessing inmates for release in England and Wales, an ex-official says.”

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BBC News, 14th May 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Prisoners launch High Court challenge to keep more of their wages – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 10th, 2012 in employment, news, prisons, rehabilitation, remuneration, victims by sally

“Prisoners who take jobs outside jail have launched a High Court challenge to keep a great share of their wages, claiming too much goes to victim support.”

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Daily Telegraph, 9th May 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Djanogly: Justice supports business – Ministry of Justice

“Justice Minister Jonathan Djanogly met today with business leaders to launch ‘Justice for Business: Supporting Business and Promoting Growth,’ a new paper outlining how the Government’s ambitious reform programme is making the justice system more effective, less costly and better for business.”

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Ministry of Justice, 8th May 2012

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

We need a ‘beyond bars’ approach to jailing women – The Guardian

Posted April 24th, 2012 in news, prisons, sentencing, women by sally

“When women with children are sent to prison, who is being punished?”

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The Guardian, 24th April 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Sexual offender prisoners were unlawfully denied certain privileges under prison rules – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted April 17th, 2012 in news, prisons, rehabilitation, sexual offences by sally

“Hard on the heels of MP comes another case on the unlawful restriction of discretion with regard to prison rules (see my post on that decision). This case concerned national policy relating to prison incentives and the earned privileges scheme (IEP). The scheme gave enhanced status to convicted sex offenders who had been assessed as unready for a sexual offences training programme.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 17th April 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Refusal of child care leave to female prisoners was unlawful, rules High Court – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted April 17th, 2012 in human rights, news, parental rights, prisons, women by sally

“The prison authorities had acted unlawfully in restricting childcare resettlement leave to prisoners who were within two years of their release date and had been allocated to ‘open’ conditions.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 16th April 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Inside Keppel: finding freedom in a children’s prison – The Guardian

Posted April 10th, 2012 in children, detention, news, prisons, rehabilitation, young offenders by sally

“The Guardian has been given exclusive access to a unit in West Yorkshire trying new ways to reach the most disturbed children.”

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The Guardian, 6th April 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Prison Law Bulletin – Garden Court Chambers

Posted April 5th, 2012 in human rights, news, prisons, sentencing by sally

“The Garden Court Prison Law Team presents the third issue of its ‘Prison Law Bulletin’.”

Issue 3 – 5 March 2012

Garden Court Chambers, 5th April 2012

Source: www.gcprisonlaw.wordpress.com

R (King) v Secretary of State for Justice: R (Bourgass and another) v Same – WLR Daily

R (King) v Secretary of State for Justice: (Bourgass and another) v Same: CA Civ 376;  [2012] WLR (D)  102

“For the purposes of article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights there was no civil right derived from domestic and common law to associate with fellow prisoners, so that an administrative decision to segregate or continue segregation of a prisoner was not a determination of such a right.”

WLR Daily, 27th Mach 2012

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Needs of female offenders better met – Ministry of Justice

Posted March 13th, 2012 in criminal justice, news, prisons, women by sally

“Justice Minister Lord McNally today visited the Hammersmith-based women’s community centre, Minerva, to see first-hand how significant investment has helped bring about changes in the way women are dealt with in the criminal justice system.”

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Ministry of Justice, 13th March 2012

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Crime and Punishment: new documentary exploring criminality – Ministry of Justice

Posted March 13th, 2012 in crime, criminal justice, news, prisons by sally

“A new BBC documentary starts today, exploring criminality over the past 60 years and featuring a number of prisons in England and Wales.”

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Ministry of Justice, 12th March 2012

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Paedophiles chemically castrated in British jail – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 13th, 2012 in news, prisons, recidivists, sexual offences, sterilisation by sally

Around one hundred child sex offenders have undergone chemical castration under a government programme to reduce the likelihood of them reoffending.

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Daily Telegraph, 13th March 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Ford Open Prison riot: Five men guilty over £5m damage – BBC News

Posted March 2nd, 2012 in criminal damage, news, prisons, violent disorder by tracey

“Five men have been convicted of charges relating to a riot at Ford Open Prison in West Sussex.”

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BBC News, 5th March 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk