More than 2,500 prison staff disciplined in five years with majority for sex and drugs, MoJ figures show – Daily Telegraph

‘Thousands of prison staff have been subject to disciplinary action in the past five years, including for relationships with inmates, assaulting prisoners and racism.’

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Daily Telegraph, 29th April 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

HMP Berwyn prison officer jailed for sex with inmate – BBC News

Posted April 30th, 2019 in misfeasance in public office, news, prison officers, prisons, sentencing by sally

‘A prison officer who had a sexual relationship with an inmate has been jailed for 12 months.’

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BBC News, 26th April 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Prison officer gets G4S payout for brain damage after assault – The Guardian

‘A prison officer left with permanent brain damage after an attack at a children’s jail run by G4S has spoken about his continued belief in rehabilitation after receiving a “substantial” settlement from his former employer.’

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The Guardian, 12th April 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Spending on jail staff legal fees 46-times more than for bereaved – The Guardian

Posted April 11th, 2019 in bereavement, fees, inquests, legal aid, legal representation, news, prisons, statistics by sally

‘The Ministry of Justice spent £4.2m representing prison officers at inquests, while paying out only £92,000 in legal aid for bereaved families at hearings that examine deaths in prison, according to newly released figures.’

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The Guardian, 10th April 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Annabella Landsberg: HMP Peterborough inmate’s death ‘shocking’ – BBC News

Posted April 5th, 2019 in death in custody, news, prisons, restraint by tracey

‘The events leading to the death of a prisoner after she was restrained and left on the floor for 21 hours were “truly shocking”, a report has said. HMP Peterborough staff thought Annabella Landsberg was “play-acting” when she stayed on her cell floor after being restrained on 2 September 2017. However, when examined the next day the 45-year-old was found to be seriously unwell and later died in hospital.’

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BBC News, 4th April 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ban painful restraint techniques on children, say charities – BBC News

Posted April 3rd, 2019 in children, news, prisons, restraint, young offenders by sally

‘Ministers are under growing pressure to ban the painful headlocks, wrist and arm twists that can be used to control children’s behaviour in youth prisons.’

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BBC News, 3rd April 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Abolish prison terms of under a year to ease safety crisis, say MPs – The Guardian

Posted April 3rd, 2019 in health & safety, imprisonment, news, prisons, sentencing by sally

‘Offenders should no longer be given sentences of under a year to ease the “enduring” prison safety crisis in England Wales, MPs have said in a damning report.’

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The Guardian, 3rd April 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

G4S stripped of contract to run Birmingham prison – The Guardian

Posted April 2nd, 2019 in contracting out, Ministry of Justice, news, prisons by tracey

‘G4S is to be permanently stripped of its contract to run Birmingham prison after the government was forced to take control of the failing jail.’

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The Guardian, 1st April 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Key to prison education handed to governors – The Guardian

Posted March 26th, 2019 in education, news, prisons by sally

‘Jails in England and Wales are to take over educating their inmates – but will that increase the chances of success?’

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The Guardian, 26th March 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

R (Youngsam) v The Parole Board – Blackstone Chambers

Posted March 13th, 2019 in appeals, delay, human rights, news, parole, precedent, prisons by sally

‘The case concerned a prisoner serving a determinate sentence who had been released on licence but then recalled to prison. He complained that there had been a delay in convening a Parole Board hearing concerning his detention, and that this breached his rights under article 5(4) of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).’

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Blackstone Chambers, 27th February 2019

Source: www.blackstonechambers.com

LW, KT, MC & Faulder v Sodexo Limited & Secretary of State for Justice – Blackstone Chambers

Posted March 13th, 2019 in contracting out, human rights, news, prisons by sally

‘The High Court has today handed down judgment on the human rights obligations owed by the State to persons serving a prison sentence in a private prison.’

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Blackstone Chambers, 21st February 2019

Source: www.blackstonechambers.com

‘In probation, we’re poorly paid and the caseloads are unmanageable’ – The Guardian

‘Chris Grayling’s 2013 reforms have cost more, yet failed to cut reoffending or reduce staff shortages.’

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The Guardian, 13th March 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Youth prison put inmates in solitary confinement for up to 23 hours a day – The Guardian

‘A prison for young adults has been placed in special measures by the government after it was found that inmates were locked alone in their cells for up to 23 hours a day – a practice campaigners have described as de facto solitary confinement.’

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The Guardian, 9th March 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

First UK transgender prison unit to open – BBC News

Posted March 4th, 2019 in news, prisons, transgender persons by sally

‘The UK’s first prison unit for transgender inmates will open this week, the Ministry of Justice has said.’

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BBC News, 3rd March 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Brain injuries in women prisoners are linked to mental illness and reoffending – The Independent

Posted February 26th, 2019 in alcohol abuse, drug abuse, mental health, news, prisons, recidivists, women by tracey

‘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.’

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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.’

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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.’

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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

Posted February 19th, 2019 in community service, news, prisons, recidivists, rehabilitation, sentencing, statistics by sally

‘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.’

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The Guardian, 18th February 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Scandal-hit children’s prison still restraining inmates unlawfully – report – The Guardian

Posted January 31st, 2019 in children, news, prisons, restraint, young offenders by tracey

‘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.’

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The Guardian, 30th January 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Elizabeth Adams: Prisoners’ Voting Rights: Case Closed? – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted January 30th, 2019 in elections, enfranchisement, human rights, news, prisons, Supreme Court by sally

‘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?’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 30th January 2019

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org