Prisoners routinely bugged as jails fall in shadowy area of surveillance – The Times

Posted February 5th, 2008 in interception, news, prisons, telecommunications by sally

“Dozens of prisoners in British jails are routinely under covert electronic surveillance, security sources told The Times last night.”

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The Times, 5th February 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Oral statement on HMP Woodhill inquiry – Ministry of Justice

Posted February 5th, 2008 in press releases, prisons by sally

“Jack Straw has made an oral statement to the House of Commons on an inquiry into alleged events at Woodhill Prison.”

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Ministry of Justice, 4th February 2008

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Illegal bug uncovered in second UK prison – The Times

Posted February 5th, 2008 in interception, news, prisons, telecommunications by sally

“Bugging devices planted in a prison telephone were illegally used to record privileged conversations between an inmate and his solicitor, The Times has learnt.”

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The Times, 5th February 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

The short and desperate life of Petra, the girl nobody helped – The Observer

Posted February 4th, 2008 in news, prisons, suicide by sally

“Petra Blanksby killed herself aged 19 after she was jailed for arson – she had tried to burn herself following years of abuse. Now the coroner at her inquest is urging changes in the prison service.”

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The Observer, 3rd February 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Court rulings to force parole and prison changes – The Guardian

Posted February 4th, 2008 in news, parole, prisons by sally

“The justice minister, Jack Straw, suffered two embarrassing defeats in the court of appeal yesterday, which will force him to pour millions of pounds into the prison and parole system.”

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The Guardian, 2nd February 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Prison policy update – briefing paper – Ministry of Justice

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

“This briefing paper on the government’s prison policy provides an update on the prison building programme announced in December 2007, and outlines the further steps we are taking in the specific areas of drugs, prison work and alternatives to custody.”

Prison policy update – briefing paper (PDF)

Ministry of Justice, 31st Janaury 2008

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Straw aims for cut in reoffending – BBC News

Posted January 31st, 2008 in news, prisons by sally

“The justice secretary has said fresh prison reforms will cut reoffending rates, reduce drug use in jails and give more skills to offenders.”

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BBC News, 31st January 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

16,000 prisoners freed early, ministry reveals – The Guardian

Posted January 31st, 2008 in news, prisons, violent offenders by sally

“More than 16,000 prisoners have been freed early – including 3,000 guilty of violent crimes – under a government scheme to cut jail overcrowding, the justice ministry revealed today.”

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The Guardian, 31st January 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Straw hesitates on prison plan after critical report – The Guardian

Posted January 30th, 2008 in news, prisons by sally

“Jack Straw today appeared to back away from plans to build a new generation of 2,500-person ‘Titan’ jails after criticism from the chief inspector of prisons.”

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The Guardian, 30th January 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Inspector criticises rush to build jails – The Guardian

Posted January 30th, 2008 in news, prisons by sally

“The government’s “scramble to build new prisons” threatens to move the UK towards a system of ‘large-scale penal containment’ which would mean worse as well as more jails, the chief inspector of prisons warns today.”

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The Guardian, 30th January 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Crowded prisons mean more held in police cells – at a cost of £459 a night – The Guardian

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

“Prisoners who are held in police cells as a result of jail overcrowding are costing the taxpayer £459 a night, figures released today show.”

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The Guardian, 28th January 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Straw sets out plan for tougher sentencing – The Independent

Posted January 28th, 2008 in news, prisons, probation, sentencing by sally

“Jack Straw, the Secretary of State for Justice, is to unveil plans to merge the prison and probation services into a US-style ‘Department of Corrections’ to try to get to grips with sentencing and the management of offenders in custody and in the community.”

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The Independent, 27th January 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Jail review ordered after rape by inmate – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 26th, 2008 in news, prisons, rape by sally

“Ministers ordered a review into open prisons yesterday amid public outcry over the rape of a 16-year-old schoolgirl by a prisoner on the run.”

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Daily Telegraph, 25th January 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Sixth of prisoners waiting to be tried – The Independent

Posted January 23rd, 2008 in delay, detention, prisons, sentencing, trials by sally

“A sixth of all prisoners held in England and Wales have not been found guilty of any offence or are waiting to be sentenced, says the first report to investigate pre-trial detention across the world.”

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The Independent, 23rd January 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Prisons merge to create new jail – BBC News

Posted January 22nd, 2008 in news, prisons by sally

“Three West Midlands prisons will merge to form one of Britain’s biggest jails, the Prison Service has announced.”

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BBC News, 22nd January 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Jack Straw may relinquish prison powers – The Times

Posted January 21st, 2008 in Ministry of Justice, news, prisons by sally

“Jack Straw is to consider giving up his power to block the transfer of long-term offenders, including murderers, into open prisons in preparation for their release.”

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The Times, 21st January 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Jail experts to tackle suicide surge – The Observer

Posted January 21st, 2008 in news, prisons, suicide by sally

“A specialist investigation team is to be sent into one of Britain’s high-security jails after five of its prisoners committed suicide in just over a year.”

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The Observer, 20th January 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Private jails ‘worse than public’ – BBC News

Posted January 21st, 2008 in news, prisons by sally

“Privately-run prisons perform worse than those run by the public sector, a document leaked to the BBC suggests.”

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BBC News, 19th January 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Tag-a-lag: Chip implants mooted for UK prisoners – The Register

Posted January 15th, 2008 in electronic monitoring, news, prisons by sally

“The Ministry of Justice is planning to solve the crisis in the UK prison system by fitting prisoners with surgically implanted tracking chips, claims the Independent on Sunday, citing a senior Ministry official. The chips, claims the paper, would be used to keep order in prison and to enforce home curfews.”

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The Register, 14th January 2008

Source: www.theregister.co.uk

Early jail releases reach 14,000 – BBC News

Posted January 11th, 2008 in news, prisons by sally

“Almost 14,000 prisoners have been freed early from jail to ease overcrowding, Ministry of Justice figures show.”

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BBC News, 11th January 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk