Lord McNally: ‘We had to cut legal aid. It’s not a bottomless pit’ – The Guardian

Posted January 30th, 2019 in budgets, human rights, legal aid, legal services, news, probation by sally

‘The Lib-Dem peer says coalition cuts were necessary but have gone too far – people must be able to access justice.’

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The Guardian, 30th January 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Sex offenders put up in hotels as no space in bail hostels, says report – The Guardian

Posted January 24th, 2019 in bail, hotels, news, ombudsmen, prisons, probation, sexual offences, statistics by tracey

‘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.’

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The Guardian, 24th January 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Number of offenders recalled to prison surges following ‘disastrous’ probation reforms – The Independent

Posted January 18th, 2019 in bail, news, prisons, probation, rehabilitation, statistics, women by tracey

‘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.’

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The Independent, 17th January 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Grayling under fire as serious crimes committed on parole soar by 50% – The Guardian

‘The number of rapes, murders and other serious crimes committed by offenders on parole has risen by more than 50% since reforms to probation were introduced four years ago, according to official data that has triggered calls for the government to rethink its plans for another shake-up of the service.’

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The Guardian, 12th January 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Prison sentences: Charities and probation staff union welcome proposals – BBC News

Posted January 14th, 2019 in charities, news, prisons, probation, recidivists, sentencing, statistics by tracey

‘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.’

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BBC News, 12th January 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

MoJ sets minimum standards to improve probation performance – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted November 12th, 2018 in contracting out, news, probation, standards by tracey

‘The government expects probation providers to offer monthly face-to-face meetings with offenders during the first year of supervision, the lord chancellor has told MPs concerned about the government’s approach to rehabilitation.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 9th November 2018

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Number of supervised offenders charged with violent crimes rises 21% – The Guardian

‘The number of offenders charged with serious crimes including murder, manslaughter and rape while they were being monitored in the community has jumped by more than a fifth in a year in England and Wales, the Guardian can reveal.’

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The Guardian, 14th October 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Private probation firms ‘put victims of abuse at risk’ – The Guardian

Posted September 25th, 2018 in contracting out, domestic violence, news, probation, rehabilitation, victims by sally

‘Tens of thousands of victims of domestic abuse and children are being put at further risk of harm by privatised offender supervision companies whose staff lack the skills, experience and time to supervise perpetrators, according to a new report.’

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The Guardian, 25th September 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Private probation companies to have contracts ended early – The Guardian

Posted July 27th, 2018 in contracting out, news, probation by sally

‘The monitoring of offenders in the community faces another shake-up after disastrous reforms introduced by Chris Grayling forced the government to bail out failing private probation companies by more than half a billion pounds.’

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The Guardian, 27th July 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Government must overhaul ‘mess’ of privatised probation system, inquiry finds – The Independent

Posted June 22nd, 2018 in contracting out, news, probation, select committees by tracey

‘The government must overhaul its “mess” of a botched programme to privatise probation that is failing against every measure and may threaten public safety, MPs have said.
An eight month inquiry by the Justice Committee found that the controversial Transforming Rehabilitation scheme had created a “two-tier” service seeing vital services outsourced to loss-making contractors.’

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The Independent, 22nd June 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Ex-offenders face bleak future after reforms fail, report says – The Guardian

Posted April 17th, 2018 in charities, contracting out, news, probation, reports, volunteers by tracey

‘Ex-offenders trying to turn their lives around face a bleak future, a probation inspector has warned, as ambitious government plans to boost the role of charities and volunteers in the probation service have failed to materialise.’

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The Guardian, 17th April 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Worboys review: What we have learned – BBC News

Posted March 20th, 2018 in news, parole, probation, sexual offences by sally

‘Until the two-day judicial review hearing, very little was known about John Worboys’ 10 years’ in custody – and the reasons why the Parole Board granted his release.’

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BBC News, 19th March 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Staff without security clearance monitor offenders – BBC News

Posted March 6th, 2018 in bail, contracting out, employment, news, prisons, probation, release on licence by sally

‘Staff without security clearance are being allowed to monitor high-risk offenders living in approved premises – commonly known as bail hostels or probation hostels – the BBC has learnt.’

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BBC News, 5th March 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Private probation companies letting convicts commit more crime and allowing them to disappear, report finds – The Independent

Posted February 9th, 2018 in contracting out, news, probation, rehabilitation, reports by tracey

‘Private companies are failing to enforce the sentences handed down by courts, leaving convicts to commit more crime or simply disappear, a damning report has found. HM Inspectorate of Probation said firms commissioned in a 2014 overhaul of the service are “stretched beyond their capacity”.’

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The Independent, 9th February 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Private probation firms fail to cut rates of reoffending – The Guardian

Posted February 5th, 2018 in contracting out, criminal justice, news, probation, recidivists by sally

‘The vast majority of companies set up to tackle reoffending as part of a controversial drive to privatise the probation service have failed to meet their targets, in a substantial embarrassment for the government.’

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The Guardian, 3rd January 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Serial sex attacker Kirk Reid to be considered for release from jail – The Guardian

Posted January 18th, 2018 in news, probation, rape, recidivists, release on licence, sexual offences by tracey

‘A serial sex attacker who was allowed to continue his spree of violence after police failures is being considered for release by the Parole Board.’

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The Guardian, 17th January 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Private probation firms face huge losses despite £342m ‘bailout’ – The Guardian

Posted January 18th, 2018 in contracting out, criminal justice, news, probation, select committees, sentencing by tracey

‘Private probation companies responsible for supervising more than 200,000 offenders in England and Wales face total losses of more than £100m, even after a £342m “bailout” by the Ministry of Justice, MPs have been told.’

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The Guardian, 17th January 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

John Worboys’ victims hope for reversal of decision to release him – The Guardian

Posted January 15th, 2018 in criminal justice, news, parole, probation, release on licence, victims by sally

‘Victims of the serial sex attacker John Worboys have welcomed a possible reversal of the Parole Board’s decision to release him this month amid growing calls at Westminster for a urgent review of the case.’

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The Guardian, 14th January 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Victims of John Worboys not consulted over terms of his release – The Guardian

Posted January 11th, 2018 in consultations, news, probation, release on licence, sexual offences, victims by tracey

‘Lawyers for victims of the serial sex attacker John Worboys reacted with anger after it emerged they have not been consulted on the terms of his release licence, which are due to be discussed on Thursday.’

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The Guardian, 10th January 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Private probation firms criticised for supervising offenders by phone – The Guardian

Posted December 14th, 2017 in contracting out, news, probation, telecommunications by sally

‘The part-privatisation of the probation service has led to tens of thousands of offenders – up to 40% of the total – being supervised by telephone calls every six weeks instead of face-to-face meetings, the chief inspector of probation has revealed.’

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The Guardian, 14th December 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com