Jails crackdown on drugs and phones – The Guardian

Posted July 8th, 2008 in drug abuse, news, prisons by sally

“New security devices, including hand-held mobile-phone blockers and metal-detecting chairs are to be introduced in prisons in England and Wales by March to crack down on the supply of illicit drugs into jails, it was announced yesterday.”

Full story

The Guardian, 8th July 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Prisons: Ministers urged to scrap sentencing reform plans – The Guardian

Posted July 7th, 2008 in news, prisons, sentencing by sally

“The government was today urged to abandon plans to introduce US-style sentencing grids to help ease prison overcrowding.”

Full story

The Guardian, 7th July 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Podcast 64: With John Hirst – author of Jailhouse Lawyer’s blog and Podcast 65: The right of prisoners to vote with Carl Gardner – Charon QC

Posted July 7th, 2008 in elections, islamic law, podcasts, prisons by sally

“Today I am talking to John Hirst, author of the Jailhouse Lawyer’s blog. John has spent 35 of his 57 years in prison.

John was sent to prison for life after being convicted of the manslaughter of his landlady, in 1979. ‘He received a tariff of 15 years, but served a total of 25 before being released in October last year. He believes his activities as a litigant against the Prison Service and Home Office are the main reason he had to serve the extra years. John proved to be the most prolific prisoner litigant of modern times – and, he says, like Perry Mason and Rumpole of the Bailey, he never lost a case against the Prison Service.’ ”

Listen to Podcast 64: With John Hirst – author of Jailhouse Lawyer’s blog

“Today I am talking to Carl Gardner, author of the Head of Legal blog, barrister, former government lawyer and commentator on Human Rights Law, about the case of Hirst v United Kingdom No (2) heard at the ECHR in 2005.

Yesterday, I did a podcast with John Hirst, author of the Jailhouse Lawyer blog about his experience of prison life and during that conversation we talked about John’s case against the British government about the right of prisoners to vote – which he won.

Carl Gardner analyses the Hirst case and we talk about the practical implications of the judgment. We also talk about Lord Phillip’s attitude to Sharia Law and his support for Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury.”

Listen to Podcast 65: The right of prisoners to vote with Carl Gardner

Source: www.charonqc.wordpress.com

“Charon QC” is the blogging pseudonym of Mike Semple Piggot, editor of insitelaw newswire.

Technology to tackle prison drugs – BBC News

Posted July 7th, 2008 in drug abuse, news, prisons by sally

“A report is to be published into ways of preventing drugs being smuggled into prisons in England and Wales.”

Full story

BBC News, 7th July 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Take part in an e-consultation into criminal justice spending – Youth Justice Board

Posted July 4th, 2008 in criminal justice, news, prisons, probation by sally

“The justice reinvestment inquiry has been set up to examine whether the resources currently given to the criminal justice system are being used effectively or whether there are alternative strategies which would give a better return for society than traditional methods of dealing with offenders.”

Full story

Youth Justice Board, 4th July 2008

Source: www.yjb.gov.uk

The Lord Chief Justices calls for alternatives to prison – The Times

Posted July 3rd, 2008 in news, prisons by sally

“Britain’s most senior judge blamed worsening overcrowding in prisons on ministers’ refusal to pay for alternatives to jail.”

Full story

The Times, 3rd July 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Community measures ‘to cut crime’ – BBC News

Posted July 3rd, 2008 in news, prisons by sally

“Money which is due to fund giant prisons should be spent on ‘community alternatives’ to jail, says a charity.”

Full story

BBC News, 3rd July 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Self-harming in prisons: the gruesome truth – The Guardian

Posted July 2nd, 2008 in mental health, news, prisons, self-harm by sally

“In 2006, there were 23,420 recorded incidents of self-harm among a total prisoner population in England and Wales of 78,000.”

Full story

The Guardian, 2nd July 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Number of prisoners on early release scheme soars – The Independent

Posted July 1st, 2008 in news, parole, prisons by sally

“Nearly 29,000 criminals have been freed from prison early in the first 11 months of an emergency scheme to beat jail overcrowding, it was announced yesterday.”

Full story

The Independent, 1st July 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Call to give councils control over youth jails – The Guardian

Posted June 30th, 2008 in news, prisons, young offenders by sally

“Making councils responsible for the cost of youth custody could help reduce the rising number of juveniles locked up each year, a campaigning charity said today.”

Full story

The Guardian, 30th June 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Judges scorn American-style sentencing to control prison overcrowding – The Times

Posted June 30th, 2008 in news, prisons, sentencing by sally

“Plans for an American-style sentencing ‘grid’ to control prison numbers appear doomed because of overwhelming opposition from the judiciary.”

Full story

The Times, 30th June 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Man freed early ‘committed rape’ – BBC News

Posted June 27th, 2008 in news, parole, prisons, rape by sally

“A prisoner allegedly raped someone after being released early under a government scheme aimed at easing jail overcrowding, it has emerged.”

Full story

BBC News, 27th June 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ombudsman quits prisoner inquiry – BBC News

Posted June 26th, 2008 in inquiries, news, prisons by sally

“The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has quit an inquiry into the treatment of a teenage prisoner, blaming the Prison Service for unacceptable restrictions.”

Full story

BBC News, 26th June 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Progress with government’s response to Corston Report – Ministry of Justice

Posted June 25th, 2008 in criminal justice, press releases, prisons, women by sally

“Maria Eagle has made a statement on progress with the government’s response to Baroness Corston’s report of a Review of Women with Particular Vulnerabilities in the Criminal Justice System.”

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 24th June 2008

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Sharp rise in prison drug seizures – Daily Telegraph

Posted June 23rd, 2008 in drug abuse, news, prisons by sally

“The amount of drugs seized in British prisons has increased sharply, new have figures revealed.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 22nd June 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Jail is no place for the average prisoner – Times Online

Posted June 19th, 2008 in news, prisons by sally

“Louis Blom-Cooper’s new book argues that 60 per cent of the prison population should not be there.”

Full story

The Times, 18th June 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

New prisoners’ employment training initiative launched – Ministry of Justice

Posted June 11th, 2008 in press releases, prisons, rehabilitation by sally

“An innovative scheme which will give prisoners the chance to change their ways by learning technology skills has been launched by Prisons Minister David Hanson MP and Skills Minister David Lammy MP. The initiative is also supported by the Department for Work and Pensions.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 10th June 2008

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Revealed: how drugs trade took hold of British prisons – The Guardian

Posted June 9th, 2008 in drug trafficking, news, prisons by sally

“The government says it’s under control but a devastating new report reveals that a sophisticated new drugs trade is flooding British prisons with record levels of cocaine, cannabis and even heroin. In many cases it’s aided and abetted by corrupt prison guards. Jamie Doward reports.”

Full story

The Guardian, 8th June 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Prisons Minister launches Titan consultation – Ministry of Justice

Posted June 5th, 2008 in consultations, news, prisons by sally

“A consultation on the development of up to three 2,500-place Titan prisons was launched today by Prisons Minister David Hanson MP.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 5th June 2008

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

WI in prison mental health call – BBC News

Posted June 5th, 2008 in mental health, news, prisons by sally

“Women’s Institute members have voted overwhelmingly to back a resolution calling for an end to ‘inappropriate imprisonment’ of the mentally ill.”

Full story

BBC News, 4th June 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk