Review call after inmates abscond – BBC News
“Calls have been made to review home leave for prisoners after three inmates went on the run from open jails in Tayside and Angus.”
BBC News, 18th July 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: prisons
Jailed murderer claims discrimination over status – The Guardian
“A long-term prisoner will go to the high court in London today to try to overturn an official policy that condemns him to remain in jail indefinitely because he is protesting his innocence.”
The Guardian, 15th July 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Ministers await ruling on release of 700 dangerous offenders – The Guardian
“More than 700 violent prisoners will be released and may be awarded thousands of pounds in compensation if the government loses an appeal court case this month.”
The Guardian, 15th July 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Older prisoners ‘doubly punished’ – BBC News
“Older prisoners in England and Wales face a ‘double punishment’ of poor treatment and conditions, says campaign group the Prison Reform Trust.”
BBC News, 10th July 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Prisons: Child secure units still use adult restraint methods, says inspector – The Guardian
“Children being held in secure units are still subjected to restraining techniques designed for adults, with no consistent system of recording the reasons for its use, according to the prisons inspector.”
The Guardian, 9th July 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Prison’s use of force criticised – BBC News
“The use of force at Dartmoor Prison has been criticised in a report by the Chief Inspector of Prisons.”
BBC News, 9th July 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Jails crackdown on drugs and phones – The Guardian
“New security devices, including hand-held mobile-phone blockers and metal-detecting chairs are to be introduced in prisons in England and Wales by March to crack down on the supply of illicit drugs into jails, it was announced yesterday.”
The Guardian, 8th July 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Prisons: Ministers urged to scrap sentencing reform plans – The Guardian
“The government was today urged to abandon plans to introduce US-style sentencing grids to help ease prison overcrowding.”
The Guardian, 7th July 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Podcast 64: With John Hirst – author of Jailhouse Lawyer’s blog and Podcast 65: The right of prisoners to vote with Carl Gardner – Charon QC
“Today I am talking to John Hirst, author of the Jailhouse Lawyer’s blog. John has spent 35 of his 57 years in prison.
John was sent to prison for life after being convicted of the manslaughter of his landlady, in 1979. ‘He received a tariff of 15 years, but served a total of 25 before being released in October last year. He believes his activities as a litigant against the Prison Service and Home Office are the main reason he had to serve the extra years. John proved to be the most prolific prisoner litigant of modern times – and, he says, like Perry Mason and Rumpole of the Bailey, he never lost a case against the Prison Service.’ ”
Listen to Podcast 64: With John Hirst – author of Jailhouse Lawyer’s blog
“Today I am talking to Carl Gardner, author of the Head of Legal blog, barrister, former government lawyer and commentator on Human Rights Law, about the case of Hirst v United Kingdom No (2) heard at the ECHR in 2005.
Yesterday, I did a podcast with John Hirst, author of the Jailhouse Lawyer blog about his experience of prison life and during that conversation we talked about John’s case against the British government about the right of prisoners to vote – which he won.
Carl Gardner analyses the Hirst case and we talk about the practical implications of the judgment. We also talk about Lord Phillip’s attitude to Sharia Law and his support for Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury.”
Listen to Podcast 65: The right of prisoners to vote with Carl Gardner
Source: www.charonqc.wordpress.com
“Charon QC” is the blogging pseudonym of Mike Semple Piggot, editor of insitelaw newswire.
Technology to tackle prison drugs – BBC News
“A report is to be published into ways of preventing drugs being smuggled into prisons in England and Wales.”
BBC News, 7th July 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Take part in an e-consultation into criminal justice spending – Youth Justice Board
“The justice reinvestment inquiry has been set up to examine whether the resources currently given to the criminal justice system are being used effectively or whether there are alternative strategies which would give a better return for society than traditional methods of dealing with offenders.”
Youth Justice Board, 4th July 2008
Source: www.yjb.gov.uk
The Lord Chief Justices calls for alternatives to prison – The Times
“Britain’s most senior judge blamed worsening overcrowding in prisons on ministers’ refusal to pay for alternatives to jail.”
The Times, 3rd July 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Community measures ‘to cut crime’ – BBC News
“Money which is due to fund giant prisons should be spent on ‘community alternatives’ to jail, says a charity.”
BBC News, 3rd July 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Self-harming in prisons: the gruesome truth – The Guardian
“In 2006, there were 23,420 recorded incidents of self-harm among a total prisoner population in England and Wales of 78,000.”
The Guardian, 2nd July 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Number of prisoners on early release scheme soars – The Independent
“Nearly 29,000 criminals have been freed from prison early in the first 11 months of an emergency scheme to beat jail overcrowding, it was announced yesterday.”
The Independent, 1st July 2008
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Call to give councils control over youth jails – The Guardian
“Making councils responsible for the cost of youth custody could help reduce the rising number of juveniles locked up each year, a campaigning charity said today.”
The Guardian, 30th June 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Judges scorn American-style sentencing to control prison overcrowding – The Times
“Plans for an American-style sentencing ‘grid’ to control prison numbers appear doomed because of overwhelming opposition from the judiciary.”
The Times, 30th June 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Man freed early ‘committed rape’ – BBC News
“A prisoner allegedly raped someone after being released early under a government scheme aimed at easing jail overcrowding, it has emerged.”
BBC News, 27th June 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Ombudsman quits prisoner inquiry – BBC News
“The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has quit an inquiry into the treatment of a teenage prisoner, blaming the Prison Service for unacceptable restrictions.”
BBC News, 26th June 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Progress with government’s response to Corston Report – Ministry of Justice
“Maria Eagle has made a statement on progress with the government’s response to Baroness Corston’s report of a Review of Women with Particular Vulnerabilities in the Criminal Justice System.”
Ministry of Justice, 24th June 2008
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
