How the Prisoner Voting Debate Finally Came to a Close – Rights Info

Posted December 12th, 2017 in elections, electoral register, human rights, news, prisons by sally

‘Former PM David Cameron once said that the thought of giving prisoners the vote made him feel “physically sick.” It was just one comment, but it’s reflective of just how emotive the debate over prisoner voting has been.’

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Rights Info, 12th December 2017

Source: rightsinfo.org

Dartmoor prisoners ‘being released without proper preparation’ – The Guardian

Posted December 12th, 2017 in news, prisons, probation, rehabilitation, release on licence by sally

‘Hundreds of high-risk prisoners, many of them sex offenders, are being released each year from Dartmoor prison without proper preparation, in a “shocking and unacceptable” public protection failing identified by the chief inspector of prisons.’

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The Guardian, 12th December 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Jailed Whistle-Blower in Plea for Press Freedoms as Supporters Launch Crowdfunding Campaign – Garden Court Chambers

‘A prison officer who lost his freedom, home and livelihood after being jailed for exposing dangerous and life-threatening failures and cutbacks in the British prison system has spoken out over the “chilling effect” that his case has had on press freedoms in the UK.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 23rd November 2017

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

Rights body endorses UK prisoner voting plan – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 8th, 2017 in elections, human rights, news, prisons by sally

‘In a rare piece of European good news for the government this week, the 47-member Council of Europe has endorsed the UK’s action plan to resolve a simmering dispute over the ban on allowing prisoners to vote in elections.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 7th December 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Elite prison squad deployed to jails 580 times last year – The Guardian

‘An elite group of specially trained prison officers had to be deployed to jails in England and Wales 580 times last year, figures show.’

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The Guardian, 6th December 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Prison inspectors given powers to alert minister to urgent problems – The Guardian

Posted November 30th, 2017 in ministers' powers and duties, news, notification, prisons, reports by tracey

‘The justice secretary, David Lidington, has unveiled a series of measures that the government hopes will urgently tackle failing prisons in England and Wales. From Thursday, the chief inspector of prisons has been given new powers to alert the justice secretary directly of any urgent and severe problems he finds during a jail inspection.’

Full press release

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The Guardian, 30th November 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Prisons struggling to cope with geriatric inmates – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 29th, 2017 in elderly, news, prisons by sally

‘Prisons are struggling to cope with the soaring population of geriatric inmates, it has emerged.’

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Daily Telegraph, 28th November 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

No overcrowding link to prison suicide, study suggests – BBC News

Posted November 27th, 2017 in mental health, news, prisons, suicide by sally

‘There is no clear link between prison suicides and overcrowding behind bars, an international study has suggested.’

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BBC News, 25th November 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

James Bulger’s killer returned to prison after probation officers ‘find child abuse images’ – Daily Telegraph

‘The killer of toddler James Bulger has reportedly been returned to prison after he was caught with child abuse images on his computer for the second time.’

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Daily Telegraph, 23rd November 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Paedophile convicted after 35 years when his victim recognised him in prison cell – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 22nd, 2017 in child abuse, imprisonment, news, prisons, sentencing, sexual offences, victims by sally

‘A paedophile was brought to justice 35 years after abusing a six-year-old boy when he found himself in the same prison cell as his victim.’

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Daily Telegraph, 21st November 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Youth prisons don’t deter criminals. They enable them – The Guardian

Posted November 21st, 2017 in children, detention, news, prisons, rehabilitation, young offenders by sally

‘Young offender institutions are cruel and counterproductive. Cressida Dick’s call for ‘harsher’ sentencing reveals her ignorance of the evidence.’

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The Guardian, 20th November 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Ministry of Justice abandons court battle on prisoners’ legal aid – The Guardian

Posted November 8th, 2017 in appeals, legal aid, Ministry of Justice, news, prisons by tracey

‘Legal aid for prisoners will be restored for three key categories of claims after the Ministry of Justice abruptly abandoned what was expected to become a supreme court battle.’

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The Guardian, 7th November 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Human rights lawyer: prisoner votes plan is ‘cynical’ – BBC News

Posted October 31st, 2017 in elections, human rights, news, prisons by sally

‘A lawyer for prisoners seeking the vote has called leaked government plans to enfranchise some inmates a “cynical” attempt to do the minimum required.’

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BBC News, 30th October 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Prisoners Will Finally Be Given The Vote, Say Reports – Rights Info

‘A limited number of prisoners will be allowed to vote ending the UK’s total ban on prisoners voting, according to reports.’

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Rights Info, 29th October 2017

Source: rightsinfo.org

Government reportedly planning to allow some UK prisoners to vote – The Guardian

‘The UK government is reportedly to scrap its blanket ban on prisoners being allowed to vote, 12 years after the European court of human rights ruled that it was unlawful.’

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The Guardian, 29th October 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Pentonville Prison murder: Anonymous witness’s identity revealed – BBC News

Posted October 27th, 2017 in anonymity, evidence, murder, news, prisons, trials, witnesses by sally

‘An anonymous witness in the Pentonville prison murder trial pulled out of giving evidence when his cover was blown after less than an hour in court.’

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BBC News, 25th October 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Violence and self-harm in UK prisons continue to surge – The Guardian

‘Violence in prisons has increased to record levels, according to new figures released by the Ministry of Justice, with 27,193 incidents of assault and serious assault in the year to June 2017.’

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The Guardian, 26th October 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Identity of anonymous prison murder trial witness mistakenly revealed in court – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 25th, 2017 in anonymity, murder, news, prisons, trials, witnesses by michael

‘An anonymous witness in the Pentonville prison murder trial has withdrawn after his cover was blown after less than an hour in court in what a judge described as a “very regrettable accident”.’

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Daily Telegraph, 25th October 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Black and Muslim prisoners suffer worse treatment, study finds – The Guardian

‘Black and Muslim offenders are more likely to be badly treated in prison, leading to poorer outcomes and mental health concerns, research has found.’

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The Guardian, 19th October 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Disgraceful conditions at Bedford prison fuelled riot, watchdog finds – The Guardian

Posted October 19th, 2017 in news, prisons, release on licence, reports, sentencing, violent disorder by tracey

‘A riot at Bedford prison that led to two wings being “totally trashed” was fuelled by frustration over “disgraceful conditions” including a failure to provide basic items such as soap, cleaning materials and toilet paper, an official watchdog has concluded.’

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The Guardian, 18th October 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com