Surge in backlog of wrongful conviction appeals at under-fire watchdog – The Independent

‘The backlog of people left waiting to know whether they will be allowed to reappeal an alleged miscarriage of justice has soared by nearly half in just four years, The Independent can reveal.’

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The Independent, 2nd November 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

‘He’s been punished enough’: Family’s plea for prisoner who set himself alight under indefinite jail term – The Independent

‘A prisoner who set himself alight in his cell after serving 12 years for stealing a mobile phone under an indefinite jail term is still fighting to be moved to a hospital.’

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The Independent, 1st November 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Board refuses to reverse murderer release decision – BBC News

Posted October 23rd, 2024 in Ministry of Justice, murder, news, parole, rape, sexual offences by tracey

‘The Parole Board has refused to overturn its direction to release a convicted murderer who stabbed a woman 60 times.’

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BBC News, 22nd October 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

119 criminal defence firms warn Lord Chancellor over legal aid – Legal Futures

Posted October 23rd, 2024 in criminal justice, judicial review, law firms, legal aid, Ministry of Justice, news by tracey

‘A group of 119 criminal law firms have warned the government not to mistake their submitting an application for a new legal aid contract for an intention actually to sign it.’

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Legal Futures, 23rd October 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.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

Bailiff who took emotional support dog on jobs loses discrimination case – The Guardian

‘A bailiff who took her miniature Yorkshire terrier on debt collection jobs has lost her case for discrimination after being told she was not entitled to have an emotional support dog at work.’

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The Guardian, 18th October 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Fewer women may go to jail in England and Wales in sentencing review – The Guardian

‘Fewer women could be sent to jail under a review to be announced by ministers this week that is expected to cut sentences for thousands of criminals.’

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The Guardian, 20th October 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Ministers to give magistrates in England and Wales more sentencing powers – The Guardian

‘Ministers will announce plans within days to give magistrates in England and Wales fresh powers to hand down longer custodial sentences to help reduce the backlog in crown courts and prisons, the Guardian understands.’

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The Guardian, 17th October 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Warning shot’ to ministers over legal aid as barristers raise threat of industrial action – The Independent

‘Barristers have issued a “warning shot” to the new government in the long-running dispute over legal aid funding, as the Criminal Bar Association raised the threat of industrial action.’

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The Independent, 13th October 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Sexual abuse victims claim free court transcript scheme was ‘hidden’ from them for months – The Independent

Posted October 14th, 2024 in delay, judgments, Ministry of Justice, news, sexual offences, victims by tracey

‘Sexual abuse victims believe they could have been saved from months of suffering after they claim a government scheme to allow them access to free court transcripts was “hidden” from them for months.’

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The Independent, 13th October 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Ministry issues call for evidence on access to justice and Aarhus Convention – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has issued a call for evidence seeking views on options to bring the UK’s policies into compliance with its obligation under the access to justice provision of the Aarhus Convention.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 1st October 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Care proceedings quicker with more disposals within 26 weeks: MoJ – Local Government Lawyer

‘The average time for public law care or supervision cases to reach first disposal was 41 weeks in April to June 2024, down 3 weeks from the same quarter in 2023, according to the latest data published by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).’

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Local Government Lawyer, 27th September 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.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

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

Employment tribunal orders justice secretary to pay court worker £27,000 – Law Society’s Gazette

‘A magistrates court’s administration officer has been awarded more than £27,000 after succeeding in her disability discrimination employment tribunal claim against the secretary of state for justice.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 3rd September 2024

Source: www.lawgazette.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