Children in prison twice as likely to have special needs, figures show – The Independent

‘Children in prison are twice as likely to have special educational needs as those in the general population, new figures reveal, prompting concern that vulnerable teenagers are being let down by mainstream services.’

Full Story

The Independent, 4th August 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

More than 18,000 prisoners ‘cooped up’ in overcrowded cells, figures show – The Independent

Posted August 2nd, 2019 in news, prisons, self-harm, violence by tracey

‘More than 18,000 prisoners are living in cells designed for fewer people as overcrowding fuels violence in jails, a charity has warned. An analysis of government figures by the Howard League for Penal Reform shows three in five men’s prisons are holding more people than they are certified to look after.’

Full Story

The Independent, 1st August 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Assault and self-harm hit record levels in jails in England and Wales – The Guardian

‘Assaults and incidents of self-harm in prisons in England and Wales have reached new highs, prompting fresh warnings that authorities are failing inmates.’

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The Guardian, 25th July 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Minister urged to intervene over Feltham youth jail violence – The Guardian

‘Urgent intervention is needed at Feltham young offender institution, the chief inspector of prisons has warned, after a review uncovered rocketing levels of violence and self-harm.’

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The Guardian, 24th July 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Specialist jails aimed at stopping radicalisation are underused, say staff – The Guardian

Posted July 23rd, 2019 in Islam, news, prison officers, prisons, religious discrimination, terrorism by sally

‘Jails-within-jails designed to prevent extremists from radicalising vulnerable prisoners are undersubscribed, staff at the specialist units have told officials.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 22nd July 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Surge in youth prison violence sparks call to close institutions – The Guardian

Posted July 23rd, 2019 in assault, news, prisons, statistics, violence, young offenders by sally

‘Assaults in youth prisons in England and Wales have risen by almost two-thirds over the last five years, a Guardian analysis has found.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 21st July 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Justice secretary urges evidence-led approach to cut crime – Ministry of Justice

‘Justice Secretary David Gauke today called for an “evidence-led” approach to tackling reoffending in order to crack down on crime and reduce the number of victims.’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 18th July 2019

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Prisoner release checks ‘put public at risk’ – chief inspector – BBC News

Posted July 10th, 2019 in health & safety, mental health, news, prisons, standards, statistics, suicide by sally

‘The safety of the public is being put at risk by thousands of prisoners being released without proper assessments, the government has been told.’

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BBC News, 9th July 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Jury finds failure to adequately assess risk of self harm and suicide contributed to death of Rocky Stenning at HMP Chelmsford – Garden Court Chambers

Posted July 5th, 2019 in death in custody, inquests, news, prisons, self-harm, suicide by sally

‘The jury returned a narrative conclusion at the inquest into the death of Rocky Stenning, finding that the failure to adequately assess his risk of self harm and suicide whilst he was at HMP Chelmsford contributed to his death. They also noted that restricting Rocky’s access to a telephone, the length of the prison sentence he received and other known triggers as identified in the Ministry of Justice’s suicide and self-harm policy, affected Rocky’s mental ill health.’

Full Story

Garden Court Chambers, 3rd July 2019

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

Jury returns damning conclusion at inquest of Andrew Brown at HMP Nottingham – Garden Court Chambers

Posted July 4th, 2019 in health & safety, inquests, juries, mental health, news, prisons, standards, suicide by sally

‘The inquest into the death of Andrew Brown has concluded on 26 June with the jury finding that a series of damning failings by HMP Nottingham contributed to his death.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 27th June 2019

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

Moors murderer Ian Brady had contact with vulnerable boys in jail – The Guardian

‘The Moors murderer Ian Brady came in contact with vulnerable borstal boys for more than five years at Wormwood Scrubs prison, Home Office files in the National Archives show.’

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The Guardian, 26th June 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

England and Wales jail ‘shameful’ numbers of people, says report – The Guardian

Posted June 24th, 2019 in contracting out, news, prisons, probation, recidivists, rehabilitation, statistics by tracey

‘More people are being sent to prison in England and Wales every year than anywhere else in western Europe, figures described as “shameful” suggest.’

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The Guardian, 24th June 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Lifeline’ community treatment pilots to steer offenders away from crime – Ministry of Justice

‘Vulnerable offenders will be offered targeted treatment under new plans designed to boost rehabilitation and reduce reoffending.’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 20th June 2019

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Review finds family ties ‘utterly indispensable’ to rehabilitation of female offenders – Ministry of Justice

‘A new report by Lord Michael Farmer on the value of prisoners’ family ties has found that healthy relationships are a “must have” when it comes to preventing women from reoffending. Prisoners who receive family visits are 39% less likely to reoffend, and research suggests that these relationships are even more important for women than they are for men.’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 18th June 2019

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

HMP Birmingham: Scanner funding failure ‘inexplicable’ – BBC News

‘A troubled jail’s failure to secure funding for a body scanner to help stop drugs being smuggled in is “inexplicable”, the chief inspector of prisons has said.’

Full Story

BBC News, 18th June 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘Inhumane’: damning report on English and Welsh prisons – The Guardian

Posted June 6th, 2019 in health & safety, news, prisons, reports, standards by tracey

‘Prisoners are living in squalid and inhumane conditions in buildings that are unfit for purpose, according to a report that paints a damning picture of prisons in England and Wales.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 5th June 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Magistrates call for end to prison sentences under eight weeks – The Guardian

‘Prison sentences of less than eight weeks should no longer be imposed by the courts, the Magistrates’ Association is urging, in defiance of more radical government proposals.’

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The Guardian, 4th June 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

More prisoners to be temporarily released for work as government relaxes rules – The Independent

Posted May 28th, 2019 in employment, news, prisons, recidivists, rehabilitation, statistics, violence by tracey

‘More prisoners are to be temporarily released for work, education or to see loved ones after the government relaxed rules.’

Full Ministry of Justice press release

Full Story

The Independent, 28th May 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Private jails more violent than public ones, data analysis shows – The Guardian

‘Private prisons are more violent than public jails, according to data analysis that raises questions over the government’s plans to pursue its prisons-for-profit model.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 13th May 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

New prison anti-corruption taskforce unveiled – Ministry of Justice

‘A specialist taskforce to tackle staff corruption in jails has been announced by Justice Secretary David Gauke today (4 May 2019).’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 4th May 2019

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice