First UK transgender prison unit to open – BBC News
‘The UK’s first prison unit for transgender inmates will open this week, the Ministry of Justice has said.’
BBC News, 3rd March 2019
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: prisons
Brain injuries in women prisoners are linked to mental illness and reoffending – The Independent
‘People with traumatic brain injuries are more likely to be violent, more likely to go to prison at a younger age (and have multiple convictions) and more likely to disobey prison rules. They are also more likely to abuse alcohol and drugs, more likely to have mental health problems and more likely to attempt suicide. Surprisingly, given the vast range of negative outcomes for this type of trauma, there have been few studies on brain injury among female prisoners.’
The Independent, 26th February 2019
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Abolishing short prison sentences will let ‘thousands of hardened criminals avoid jail’, report claims – The Independent
‘Ministers’ calls for short prison sentences to be abolished would see thousands of hardened criminals avoid jail, a report has claimed.’
The Independent, 25th February 2019
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Getting home: how can Britons serving sentences overseas transfer to a British prison? – Doughty Street Chambers
‘The Ministry of Justice recently updated its guidance for UK nationals who are serving sentences in prisons overseas, and who may wish to serve the remainder of their sentences in the UK. You can read that guidance by clicking here. But what are the conditions which must be met, and what are the practical steps which might be taken to help a UK national serve the remainder of their sentence in their own country? Christopher Sykes from our Criminal Law and Appeals Team looks at how to go about achieving this.’
Doughty Street Chambers, 5th February 2019
Source: insights.doughtystreet.co.uk
‘Prison isn’t working’: David Gauke calls for end to short jail terms – The Guardian
‘The justice secretary has said he wants to end short prison sentences because they do not work and hopes that technology and more community sentences will provide better alternatives to jail.’
The Guardian, 18th February 2019
Source: www.theguardian.com
Scandal-hit children’s prison still restraining inmates unlawfully – report – The Guardian
‘Staff at a scandal-hit children’s prison that was exposed for abusing its young inmates are still restraining young people unlawfully, a report from inspectors has revealed.’
The Guardian, 30th January 2019
Source: www.theguardian.com
Elizabeth Adams: Prisoners’ Voting Rights: Case Closed? – UK Constitutional Law Association
‘On 6 December 2018, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe closed the supervision of the prisoners’ voting rights cases against the United Kingdom (UK) and adopted final resolution CM/ResDH(2018)467. Thirteen years after Hirst v United Kingdom (No.2) (2006) 42 EHRR 41 (Hirst) was made final, the protracted prisoner voting stalemate is over. Case closed. Or is it?’
UK Constitutional Law Association, 30th January 2019
Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org
Former prisoner sues Ministry of Justice over PTSD from rats – The Guardian
‘A man is suing the prison service after he developed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from rats running across his body and bed while he was locked in his cell, the Guardian has learned.’
The Guardian, 29th January 2019
Source: www.theguardian.com
Sex offenders put up in hotels as no space in bail hostels, says report – The Guardian
‘Sex offenders are being put up in high-street budget hotels without the knowledge of the proprietors or guests because spaces in closely monitored bail hostels are unavailable, inspectors have discovered.’
The Guardian, 24th January 2019
Source: www.theguardian.com
Monitoring of abuse claims at children’s prison ‘ineffective’ – The Guardian
‘A review into the alleged abuse of children by staff at a children’s prison has found that a series of failings led to an “erratic and ineffective” monitoring of investigations into the claims.’
The Guardian, 21st January 2019
Source: www.theguardian.com
Number of offenders recalled to prison surges following ‘disastrous’ probation reforms – The Independent
‘Ministers have been accused of pushing through “disastrous” probation reforms as it emerged the number of offenders recalled to prison for breaching bail conditions has surged by more than a quarter in four years.’
The Independent, 17th January 2019
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Prison sentences: Charities and probation staff union welcome proposals – BBC News
‘Ministers are being warned that a proposal to scrap prison sentences of six months or less will only work if there is more investment in the probation services. The government says this approach in England and Wales’ prisons could reduce overcrowding and re-offending.’
BBC News, 12th January 2018
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Trio of justice bills become law – Ministry of Justice
‘Justice Secretary David Gauke today spoke of his pride in a department “delivering real change”, after 3 important justice bills all became law on the same day (20 December 2018).’
Ministry of Justice, 20th December 2018
Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice
Anti-drone technology could be introduced in English prisons – The Guardian
‘The government could introduce an anti-drone system to stop drug smuggling in English prisons after a successful six-month experiment in Guernsey prompted ministers to consider a U-turn about the technology.’
The Guardian, 18th December 2018
Source: www.theguardian.com
Puppy therapy to help prisoners with mental health and addiction launched for the first time in the UK – Daily Telegraph
‘Puppy therapy to help prisoners with mental health and addiction is being offered in the first scheme of its kind in the UK.’
Daily Telegraph, 17th December 2018
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
A third of prisons hold at least one transgender inmate, MoJ says – The Guardian
‘More than a third of prisons in England and Wales hold at least one transgender inmate, official statistics have revealed.’
The Guardian, 30th November 2018
Source: www.theguardian.com
Jails are failing to get a grip on violence and drugs, says chief inspector – Daily Telegraph
‘Britain’s jails are failing to get a grip on record levels of violence, suicides, self-harm and drug-taking which are all getting worse, the chief inspector of prisons warned yesterday.’
Daily Telegraph, 22nd November 2018
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Rise in prison suicides prompts calls to tackle overcrowding – The Guardian
‘The number of suicides among prisoners this year has already exceeded 2017’s death toll, prompting penal reform campaigners to renew calls for urgent action to tackle overcrowding.’
The Guardian, 19th November 2018
Source: www.theguardian.com
