HMP Woodhill: Prison staff made insufficient checks on inmate found dead – BBC News
‘Prison staff failed to properly check on a prisoner the morning he was found dead, the prisons ombudsman has ruled.’
BBC News, 18th March 2024
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: mental health
Courting controversy: the use of trigger warnings in teaching human rights law – The Law Teacher
‘This article explores how legal academics approach sensitive topics in human rights law, specifically how content is chosen, curated and discussed with students. It draws on data collected as part of a small pilot study which looked at how human rights academics approach “controversial” topics and how their views on controversy and sensitivity may be reflected in their curriculum. It focuses on the wider debate around trigger warnings in higher education and explores how academics use them. It concludes that, despite their negative reputation, “trigger warnings” can play a necessary and welcome role in navigating sensitive material.’
The Law Teacher, 1st March 2024
Source: www.tandfonline.com
High Court judge makes care order for teenage boy despite local authority seeking to withdraw its application – Local Government Lawyer
‘A High Court judge has refused to allow a local authority to withdraw its application for a care order, finding that an order would be in the “best interests” of a teenage boy with complex needs.’
Local Government Lawyer, 14th March 2024
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Court of Protection declares lawfulness of care plan setting out arrangements for termination of woman’s pregnancy – Local Government Lawyer
‘A judge sitting in the Court of Protection has declared that a care plan setting out the arrangements for the termination of a woman’s pregnancy was lawful.’
Local Government Lawyer, 14th March 2024
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Coroner criticises benefits rules after vulnerable claimant’s death – The Guardian
‘A coroner has criticised the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) after a woman died from an overdose in the wake of a six-month official investigation that left her with soaring universal credit debts.’
The Guardian, 10th March 2024
Source: www.theguardian.com
Prisoner describes ‘torture’ of indefinite jail term as he makes landmark public parole bid – The Independent
‘The first IPP prisoner to have his parole bid held in public has revealed how each day is “torture” serving a sentence with no release date.’
The Independent, 10th March 2024
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Crown Prosecution Service lawyers trivialise teen sexual abuse, report says – The Guardian
‘Lawyers in the Crown Prosecution Service in England and Wales have trivialised teen sexual abuse, are “obsessed” about the credibility of rape victims and used victim-blaming language, according to a critical official examination into how the service deals with serious sexual crimes.’
The Guardian, 11th March 2024
Source: www.theguardian.com
Deadly experiment? UK asylum sites criticised for ‘horrific’ level of despair – The Guardian
‘Twice in January, ambulances rushed to the former RAF airbase at Wethersfield in a remote part of Essex, now the Home Office’s biggest mass asylum accommodation site, to attend to suicide attempts. On each occasion, an asylum seeker was admitted to hospital. Both survived.’
The Guardian, 28th February 2024
Source: www.theguardian.com
Students think they need connections to progress legal career – Legal Futures
‘A significant number of students think nepotism and connections are important to progress in the law, according to research which found that this did indeed help some get jobs.’
Legal Futures, 28th February 2024
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Sobhia Khan: Concern over hospital release of man who killed wife – BBC News
‘A coroner has found “numerous failings” led to a man being able to beat his wife to death after his release from a secure psychiatric unit.’
BBC News, 27th February 2024
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Calls to end the ‘living nightmare’ of indefinite jail terms ahead of crunch Lords debate – The Independent
‘Mental health, human rights and criminal justice experts have made a joint plea for parliament to end the “living nightmare” of indefinite jail terms, following a series of revelations by The Independent. Thousands of prisoners have been left languishing in jail for years longer than their minimum tariff, and with no hope of release, under imprisonment for public protection (IPP) sentences – which were scrapped more than a decade ago amid human rights concerns.’
The Independent, 26th February 2024
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Negligence case by schizophrenic man who killed three OAPs gets go-ahead – The Independent
‘A paranoid schizophrenic who killed three pensioners will be allowed to continue his legal challenge over his treatment from authorities before the deaths, the Court of Appeal has ruled.’
The Independent, 20th February 2024
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Prisoners with mental illness wait too long for beds – BBC News
‘Prisoners with severe mental illnesses are waiting too long for hospital care, says the chief inspector of prisons.’
BBC News, 19th February 2024
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Bristol University loses appeal over suicide of disabled student on exam day – The Guardian
‘The family of a disabled undergraduate who killed herself on the day of a “truly terrifying” oral exam have won the latest stage of a legal battle to compel universities to take more care of students struggling with their mental health.’
The Guardian, 14th February 2024
Source: www.theguardian.com
Handcuffed migrants face unlimited detention in ‘prison-like’ conditions, anti-torture committee finds – The Independent
‘Migrants facing unlimited detention in “prison-like” UK immigration sites are being handcuffed to beds and allowed to self-harm, a European anti-torture committee has found.’
The Independent, 8th February 2024
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Current Affairs Digest: Law – House of Lords Library
‘Sentences of imprisonment for public protection (IPPs) were abolished in 2012. However, this abolition did not apply retrospectively to prisoners already serving IPPs. Recent prison population data on IPPs has shown over 1,200 prisoners have never been released. This briefing examines concerns raised by campaign groups, professional bodies and international partners about the impact of IPPs on prisoners’ release prospects and mental health.’
House of Lords Library, 6th February 2024
Source: lordslibrary.parliament.uk
Section 117 after-care statutory guidance – a missed opportunity? – Local Government Lawyer
‘Lee Parkhill reviews new Government guidance on the joint duty under s.117 of the Mental Health Act 1983.’
Local Government Lawyer, 2nd February 2024
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Time to address “silent crisis” of finding safe placements for children with profound needs long overdue, says judge – Local Government Lawyer
‘The High Court has ruled that a vulnerable teenage girl should be moved from hospital to her local authority’s proposed placement in an unregistered placement “as a matter of urgency”, under a high degree of restriction to keep her safe.’
Local Government Lawyer, 30th January 2024
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
