Prisoner numbers could hit 95,800 by 2015, says minister – The Guardian

Posted September 18th, 2008 in news, prisons by sally

“The prison population in England and Wales could hit 95,800 by 2015 – a rise of nearly 15% on the present figure – the Ministry of Justice said today.”

Full story

The Guardian, 18th September 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Jack Straw says 50,000 prisoners to be freed from jail early by January – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 18th, 2008 in early release, news, prisons by sally

“Nearly 50,000 prisoners will have been released early by the beginning of next year to ease jail overcrowding, Jack Straw has admitted.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 17th September 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Jack Straw agrees prisoner transfer deal with Vietnam – Ministry of Justice

Posted September 15th, 2008 in extradition, press releases, prisons, Vietnam by sally

“Vietnamese nationals serving prison sentences in the UK will now be able to return home to complete their sentence following an agreement signed by Justice Secretary Jack Straw today.”

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 12th September 2008

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Security fears as 116 mentally ill criminals escape in a year – The Times

Posted September 9th, 2008 in mental health, news, prisons by sally

“England’s director of mental health care today called for tougher standards for secure hospitals after it emerged that at least 116 mentally ill criminals escaped last year, more than 20 times the rate of escapes by offenders held in prison.”

Full story

The Times, 9th September 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Mystery inmate refuses to leave jail – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 5th, 2008 in news, prisons by sally

“The male prisoner, who is a foreign national, has exploited a loophole in the system by refusing to divulge his real name and country of origin.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 5th September 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Half of all criminals re-offend within a year – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 5th, 2008 in news, prisons, recidivists by sally

“Nearly half of all criminals released from jail reoffended within a year of being let out, figures have disclosed.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 5th September 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Cherie Booth tells politicians to stop ‘hysterically’ hyping crime – The Independent

Posted September 5th, 2008 in crime, news, prisons by sally

“The ‘hysterical rhetoric of politicians attempting to ride the tiger of public opinion’ is fuelling the fear of crime, according to a commission headed by Cherie Booth. The Commission on English Prisons Today, led by the wife of the former prime minister, protested over the record prison population reached under the government led until last year by Tony Blair.”

Full story

The Independent, 5th September 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Charity Nacro in bid to run two new prisons – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 2nd, 2008 in news, prisons by sally

“Nacro, which attempts to cut crime by finding practical work for offenders, has formed a consortium with the private security firm G4S, a drugs charity and a construction company, its chief executive Paul Cavadino has confirmed.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 2nd September 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Record numbers of ex-soldiers in UK jails as combat trauma blamed – The Guardian

Posted September 1st, 2008 in armed forces, news, prisons, violent offenders by sally

“The number of soldiers who end up in prison for violent offences has increased dramatically in the past four years, according to a report that has raised concerns about the mental health of military personnel returning from war zones. Compiled by probation officers, the report estimates that at least 8,500 former soldiers are in custody – 9 per cent of the UK prison population and nearly double the estimate of a previous study by the Home Office in 2004, which put the figure at 5 per cent.”

Full story

The Guardian, 31st August 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Titan prisons to be rebranded as ‘cluser jails’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 1st, 2008 in news, prisons by sally

“Controversial ‘Titan prisons’ proposed by the Government to ease jail overcrowding have met with such widespread opposition that ministers are considering changing their name in a ‘rebranding’ exercise.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 31st August 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Prison reformers condemn new ‘Titan’ jails as a ‘gigantic mistake’ – The Independent

Posted August 28th, 2008 in news, prisons by sally

“Proposals to build three huge new jails would ‘squander’ public money and leave Britain the prisons capital of Europe, a coalition of 34 penal reform groups and unions warn today.”

Full story

The Independent, 28th August 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Titan jails ‘could be dangerous’ – BBC News

Posted August 26th, 2008 in news, prisons by sally

“The proposed giant Titan jails could be dangerous and ministers have failed to explain why they would save money, a prisons watchdog has said.”

Full story

BBC News, 26th August 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘Growing violence’ at UK prison – BBC News

Posted August 20th, 2008 in news, prisons by sally

“An inspection of one of Britain’s high-security prisons has raised concern about levels of violence.”

Full story

BBC News, 19th August 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Man sues over jail ‘error’ claim – BBC News

Posted August 19th, 2008 in forgery, news, passports, prisons, young offenders by sally

“An immigrant who was sent to an adult prison because he lied about his age on a fake passport is suing the Home Office for ‘unlawful detainment’.”

Full story

BBC News, 19th August 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Prisons accused over elderly care – BBC News

Posted August 13th, 2008 in elderly, news, prisons by sally

“Prison bosses in England and Wales have failed to respond to a call to introduce special policies for elderly inmates, the prisons inspector says.”

Full story

BBC News, 12th August 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Discussion paper on prison mother and baby units – Ministry of Justice

Posted August 1st, 2008 in news, prisons, women by sally

“Maria Eagle’s response to the Children’s Commissioner for England about the findings of his report ‘Prison Mother and Baby Units’.”

Full response

Ministry of Justice, 1st August

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Rapist ‘must be found new cell’ – BBC News

Posted August 1st, 2008 in disabled persons, news, prisons by sally

“A judge has ordered that a near-blind and disabled rapist should be found a different cell because of the convict’s squalid conditions behind bars.”

Full story

BBC News, 31st July 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Foreign inmates reach record number in spite of ministers’ drive to increase deportations – The Times

Posted August 1st, 2008 in news, prisons by sally

“Record numbers of foreign prisoners are being held in jails in England and Wales, according to government figures published yesterday.”

Full story

The Times, 1st August 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

31,500 prisoners released early – BBC News

Posted July 31st, 2008 in early release, news, prisons by sally

“More than 31,500 criminals were freed early in England and Wales in the first year of a scheme to free up overcrowded jails, official figures show.”

Full story

BBC News, 31st July 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Mason v Ministry of Justice – WLR Daily

Posted July 31st, 2008 in human rights, law reports, parole, prisons by sally

Mason v Ministry of Justice [2008] EWHC 1787 (QB); [2008] WLR (D) 265

“The discretion to release a prisoner on home detention curfew could lawfully be exercised by the executive. An individual’s right under art 5(4) of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, to take proceedings by which the lawfulness of his detention could be decided, was adequately protected by the possibility of review of decisions of the executive on general public law principles.”

WLR Daily, 30th July 2008

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.