Revealed: Record number of ex-offenders charged with serious new crimes while on probation – The Independent

‘The number of ex-offenders charged with committing serious crimes while on probation has surged by a third to hit a grim new record, the latest figures show.’

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The Independent, 17th December 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Landmark Sentencing Review launched to end prison crisis – Ministry of Justice

‘Public safety will be at the heart of an independent review into sentencing, as the government pledges to end the crisis in our prisons.’

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Ministry of Justice, 21st October 2024

Source: www.gov.uk

Labour will have ‘blood on its hands’ if it rejects review of indefinite jail terms – The Independent

‘Families are warning the government will have “blood on its hands” if it turns its back on 3,000 prisoners as Labour is set to reject a review of cruel indefinite jail terms, The Independent has learned.’

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The Independent, 30th September 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

HMP Brixton: Inspection finds catalogue of failings at one of UK’s most overcrowded jails – The Independent

‘A damning inspection has highlighted a catalogue of failings at one of the UK’s most overcrowded jails – underscoring how the crisis behind bars “extends far beyond the prison walls and into our communities”.’

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The Independent, 24th September 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Justice secretary Shabana Mahmood unveils plan to shut women’s prisons amid overcrowding crisis – The Independent

Posted September 25th, 2024 in criminal justice, early release, Ministry of Justice, news, prisons, statistics, women by sally

‘Justice secretary Shabana Mahmood has set out plans to slash the number of women going to jail and ultimately close women’s prisons amid an overcrowding crisis.’

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The Independent, 24th September 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

‘Hundreds’ of prisoners freed early in England and Wales not fitted with tags – The Guardian

‘Prisoners freed early to ease overcrowding in jails have not been fitted with electronic tags despite it being a condition of their release, prompting criticism from a parliamentary watchdog.’

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The Guardian, 19th September 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Secretary of State for Justice agrees to release dying prisoner on compassionate grounds following legal challenge – No. 5 Barristers Chambers

Posted September 19th, 2024 in chambers articles, early release, health, judicial review, news, prisons, probation by sally

‘On Friday 16 August 2024, following the urgent judicial review proceedings and interim relief application brought by the Prisoners’ Advice Service, instructing Philip Rule KC and Mirren Gidda of No5 Barristers’ Chambers, the Secretary of State for Justice agreed to grant early release on compassionate grounds (‘ERCG’) to a prisoner dying of stage 4 cancer and whose prognosis is just 6 weeks or so expected left to live.’

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No. 5 Barristers Chambers, 20th August 2024

Source: www.no5.com

Magistrates could give longer sentences under new proposals – BBC News

Posted September 17th, 2024 in criminal justice, Crown Court, delay, early release, magistrates, news, prisons, sentencing by tracey

‘Magistrates in England and Wales could be given powers to hand down longer custodial sentences under proposals to help reduce the backlog in crown courts and prisons.’

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BBC News, 16th September 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Government defends early release scheme after freed prisoner charged with sexual assault – BBC News

Posted September 16th, 2024 in early release, Ministry of Justice, news, prisons, recidivists, sexual offences by tracey

‘The government has defended the early release of prisoners after it emerged a former inmate allegedly sexually assaulted a woman on the same day he was freed.’

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BBC News, 14th September 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Prisoner early release begins to ease overcrowding – BBC News

Posted September 10th, 2024 in early release, imprisonment, Ministry of Justice, news, prisons by tracey

‘Up to 1,750 offenders have spent their last night in prison ahead of being released under the Ministry of Justice’s emergency plan to ease the overcrowding crisis in jails.’

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BBC News, 9th September 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Prison early release scheme to include some serious offenders, MoJ admits – The Guardian

‘Prisoners serving time for lesser crime following serious one will be eligible under plan to free up jail space, officials confirm.’

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The Guardian, 3rd September 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Number of prisoners released into homelessness rises by a third in a year, despite new government scheme – The Independent

‘The number of people released from prison into homelessness has risen 30 per cent in a year despite a major new scheme to house departing offenders, The Independent can reveal.’

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The Independent, 4th August 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Probation staffing crisis laid bare in damning reports as alarm sounded over public safety – The Independent

‘A string of new probation watchdog investigations have laid bare the staffing crisis blighting the service’s ability to supervise offenders in the community and keep the public safe.’

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The Independent, 24th July 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Cut ‘unsustainable’ probation workload in England and Wales, urges watchdog – The Guardian

Posted July 22nd, 2024 in early release, Ministry of Justice, news, prisons, probation, statistics by sally

‘Ministers should consider reducing the caseload of the probation service by up to 40,000 offenders if they are to ease the overcrowding crisis in prisons, a watchdog has told the Guardian.’

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The Guardian, 22nd July 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Which prisoners will be released from jail early? – BBC News

Posted July 15th, 2024 in early release, Ministry of Justice, news, police, prisons, statistics by tracey

‘The government has announced emergency measures to deal with prison overcrowding in England and Wales.’

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BBC News, 12th July 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Prisoners to be released early to ease overcrowding – BBC News

Posted July 11th, 2024 in early release, news, prisons, sentencing by sally

‘The government will announce plans on Friday to release prisoners early to stop jails becoming full, the BBC has confirmed.’

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BBC News, 11th July 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Police chiefs say prison crisis in England and Wales is ‘unsustainable’ – The Guardian

‘Police chiefs have told ministers they fear that the crisis gripping the Prison Service in England and Wales is “unsustainable” and risks public safety, the Guardian has learned.’

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The Guardian, 21st May 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Court delays imposed after pressure on prison places – BBC News

Posted May 15th, 2024 in courts, criminal justice, delay, early release, imprisonment, news, prisons by sally

‘Some court appearances will be delayed as part of an emergency measure because of prison overcrowding.’

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BBC News, 15th May 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Government triggers crisis measure to ease prison overcrowding – The Guardian

Posted May 10th, 2024 in early release, Ministry of Justice, news, prisons by sally

‘The government has formally triggered a crisis measure to ease prison overcrowding by using police cells to house inmates.’

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The Guardian, 9th May 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Domestic abuse survivors ‘put in danger by early prison release of perpetrators’ – The Guardian

‘Survivors of domestic abuse have been put in danger by ministers’ failure to give notice of the early release from prison of their abusers, a Home Office adviser has said.’

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The Guardian, 8th May 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com