Category: probation

Government must overhaul ‘mess’ of privatised probation system, inquiry finds – The Independent

Posted June 22nd, 2018 in contracting out, news, probation, select committees by tracey

‘The government must overhaul its “mess” of a botched programme to privatise probation that is failing against every measure and may threaten public safety, MPs have said.
An eight month inquiry by the Justice Committee found that the controversial Transforming Rehabilitation scheme had created a “two-tier” service seeing vital services outsourced to loss-making contractors.’

Full Story

The Independent, 22nd June 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Ex-offenders face bleak future after reforms fail, report says – The Guardian

Posted April 17th, 2018 in charities, contracting out, news, probation, reports, volunteers by tracey

‘Ex-offenders trying to turn their lives around face a bleak future, a probation inspector has warned, as ambitious government plans to boost the role of charities and volunteers in the probation service have failed to materialise.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 17th April 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Worboys review: What we have learned – BBC News

Posted March 20th, 2018 in news, parole, probation, sexual offences by sally

‘Until the two-day judicial review hearing, very little was known about John Worboys’ 10 years’ in custody – and the reasons why the Parole Board granted his release.’

Full Story

BBC News, 19th March 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Staff without security clearance monitor offenders – BBC News

Posted March 6th, 2018 in bail, contracting out, employment, news, prisons, probation, release on licence by sally

‘Staff without security clearance are being allowed to monitor high-risk offenders living in approved premises – commonly known as bail hostels or probation hostels – the BBC has learnt.’

Full Story

BBC News, 5th March 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Private probation companies letting convicts commit more crime and allowing them to disappear, report finds – The Independent

Posted February 9th, 2018 in contracting out, news, probation, rehabilitation, reports by tracey

‘Private companies are failing to enforce the sentences handed down by courts, leaving convicts to commit more crime or simply disappear, a damning report has found. HM Inspectorate of Probation said firms commissioned in a 2014 overhaul of the service are “stretched beyond their capacity”.’

Full Story

The Independent, 9th February 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Private probation firms fail to cut rates of reoffending – The Guardian

Posted February 5th, 2018 in contracting out, criminal justice, news, probation, recidivists by sally

‘The vast majority of companies set up to tackle reoffending as part of a controversial drive to privatise the probation service have failed to meet their targets, in a substantial embarrassment for the government.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 3rd January 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Serial sex attacker Kirk Reid to be considered for release from jail – The Guardian

Posted January 18th, 2018 in news, probation, rape, recidivists, release on licence, sexual offences by tracey

‘A serial sex attacker who was allowed to continue his spree of violence after police failures is being considered for release by the Parole Board.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 17th January 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Private probation firms face huge losses despite £342m ‘bailout’ – The Guardian

Posted January 18th, 2018 in contracting out, criminal justice, news, probation, select committees, sentencing by tracey

‘Private probation companies responsible for supervising more than 200,000 offenders in England and Wales face total losses of more than £100m, even after a £342m “bailout” by the Ministry of Justice, MPs have been told.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 17th January 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

John Worboys’ victims hope for reversal of decision to release him – The Guardian

Posted January 15th, 2018 in criminal justice, news, parole, probation, release on licence, victims by sally

‘Victims of the serial sex attacker John Worboys have welcomed a possible reversal of the Parole Board’s decision to release him this month amid growing calls at Westminster for a urgent review of the case.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 14th January 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Victims of John Worboys not consulted over terms of his release – The Guardian

Posted January 11th, 2018 in consultations, news, probation, release on licence, sexual offences, victims by tracey

‘Lawyers for victims of the serial sex attacker John Worboys reacted with anger after it emerged they have not been consulted on the terms of his release licence, which are due to be discussed on Thursday.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 10th January 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Private probation firms criticised for supervising offenders by phone – The Guardian

Posted December 14th, 2017 in contracting out, news, probation, telecommunications by sally

‘The part-privatisation of the probation service has led to tens of thousands of offenders – up to 40% of the total – being supervised by telephone calls every six weeks instead of face-to-face meetings, the chief inspector of probation has revealed.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 14th December 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Dartmoor prisoners ‘being released without proper preparation’ – The Guardian

Posted December 12th, 2017 in news, prisons, probation, rehabilitation, release on licence by sally

‘Hundreds of high-risk prisoners, many of them sex offenders, are being released each year from Dartmoor prison without proper preparation, in a “shocking and unacceptable” public protection failing identified by the chief inspector of prisons.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 12th December 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

James Bulger’s killer returned to prison after probation officers ‘find child abuse images’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 23rd, 2017 in child abuse, indecent photographs of children, news, prisons, probation, young offenders by sally

‘The killer of toddler James Bulger has reportedly been returned to prison after he was caught with child abuse images on his computer for the second time.’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 23rd November 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Why are privatised probation services using public libraries to see clients? – The Guardian

Posted November 1st, 2017 in libraries, news, probation by sally

‘A lack of adequate meeting rooms means ex-offenders in Weston-super-Mare have to meet their probation officers while sharing a table with library users.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 1st November 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Young offenders ‘should have social media monitored’ – BBC News

Posted October 26th, 2017 in crime prevention, internet, news, probation, young persons by sally

‘Young people at risk of being involved in crime should have their social media profiles monitored by youth workers, a probation watchdog report has said.’

Full Story

BBC News, 26th October 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ex-prisoners lack support, says probation head – BBC News

Posted October 13th, 2017 in news, probation, rehabilitation by tracey

‘Too many prisoners leaving jail are merely being “signposted” towards rehabilitation services, the head of the Probation Service has admitted.’

Full Story

BBC News, 13th October 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Criminals could be banned from drinking after they are released from prison – The Independent

Posted October 13th, 2017 in alcohol abuse, news, probation by tracey

‘Former prisoners could be barred from drinking alcohol after their release from custody under new measures aimed at reducing reoffending rates. The proposals would give probation officers across the country, the power to enforce tailored restrictions on criminals when they are released.’

Full Story

The Independent, 12th October 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Ofsted reports on the inspection of services for children living with domestic abuse – Family Law

Posted September 21st, 2017 in children, domestic violence, education, health, local government, news, police, probation, reports, social services by sally

‘Ofsted, the Care Quality Commission, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary, and HM Inspectorate of Probation have published a report examining the multi-agency response to children living with domestic abuse, along with inspections of local area services.’

Full Story

Family Law, 20th September 2017

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Prison ‘reboot’ may free up 7,000 prison places, says thinktank – The Guardian

Posted September 14th, 2017 in criminal justice, news, prisons, probation, rehabilitation, reports by tracey

‘A “reboot” of the government’s “rehabilitation revolution”, including the early release of well-behaved prisoners, could free up more than 7,000 prison places, according to the latest report from a centre-right thinktank.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 14th September 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Increase in serious crimes by offenders on probation, figures show – The Guardian

Posted August 2nd, 2017 in contracting out, crime, Ministry of Justice, news, probation, recidivists, rehabilitation, statistics, violence by tracey

‘There has been an increase in serious crimes committed by offenders under supervision in the community since the controversial privatisation of the probation service, figures suggest. The number of offenders on probation charged with murder, manslaughter, rape and other serious violent or sexual crimes has risen by more than 25% since changes to the service in England and Wales.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 2nd August 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com