‘Low-level’ paedophiles could avoid jail terms under new guidance – Daily Telegraph

‘Police have been told by government that paedophiles caught with indecent child abuse images can receive conditional cautions instead of jail as police struggle to cope with an explosion of cases.’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 2nd November 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

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.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 25th September 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

English courts trial mental health referrals for vulnerable offenders – The Guardian

Posted August 10th, 2018 in alcohol abuse, drug abuse, mental health, news, rehabilitation, sentencing by sally

‘Offenders with mental health, alcohol and drug abuse problems are being referred to health services as part of community sentences in an effort to steer them away from jail time.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 10th August 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Justice Secretary launches fresh crackdown on crime in prison – speech – Ministry of Justice

Posted July 11th, 2018 in drug abuse, prisons, rehabilitation, sentencing, speeches by tracey

‘Justice Secretary launches fresh crackdown on crime in prison – speech.’

Full speech

Ministry of Justice, 10th July 2018

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Secretary of State launches dedicated strategy to ‘break the cycle’ of female offending – Ministry of Justice

Posted June 27th, 2018 in imprisonment, press releases, prisons, rehabilitation, women by tracey

‘The female offender strategy sets out a commitment to divert the most vulnerable women in the criminal justice system away from custody through the provision of tailored support.’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 27th June 2018

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Trials and tribulations: my life as a criminal barrister – The Guardian

Posted June 26th, 2018 in barristers, criminal justice, news, rehabilitation, young offenders by sally

‘Years spent representing young offenders left me unconvinced that the system was giving them a fair shot at rehabilitation.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 26th June 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

When does rehabilitation create a ‘right to be forgotten’? – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted April 24th, 2018 in data protection, human rights, internet, news, privacy, rehabilitation by sally

‘In NT1 and NT2 v Google LLC, Mr Justice Warby considered whether Google should be required to ‘de-list’ links in its search results to articles about the spent historic convictions of two businessmen under what is commonly called the ‘right to be forgotten’. He held it was in the case of one claimant, but not the other.’

Full Story

UK Human Rights Blog, 20th April 2018

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

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”.’

Full Story

The Independent, 9th February 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Why has serial offender Terry Ellis swapped a life of crime to go straight? – The Guardian

Posted January 10th, 2018 in news, prisons, recidivists, rehabilitation by sally

‘A stint at the UK’s only therapeutic prison, Grendon, put this criminal in touch with his feelings. It’s allowed him to set up a business to help others leaving jail.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 9th January 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

More prisoners should ‘commute’ to work, says justice secretary – The Guardian

Posted December 19th, 2017 in employment, news, prisons, rehabilitation, release on licence by sally

‘The justice secretary is to encourage prison governors to allow more inmates to “commute to work” by making greater use of their powers to grant prisoners temporary releases on licence.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 18th December 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

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.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 12th December 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

’Irrelevant’ criminal record checks harm ex-offenders’ job hopes – The Guardian

‘The criminal records system is hampering the rehabilitation of ex-offenders, according to new figures. Nearly three quarters of the million or so convictions revealed to employers each year in criminal records checks are more than a decade old. Only around 5,000 – one in 197 – are considered relevant to a person’s job application.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 25th November 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

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.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 20th November 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Man sentenced over £50m drugs haul find on Norfolk beach – BBC News

Posted November 8th, 2017 in drug offences, news, rehabilitation, sentencing, suspended sentences by tracey

‘A man who helped himself to cocaine that had washed up on a beach has been given a two year suspended sentence.’

Full Story

BBC News, 7th November 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Non-custodial sentencing falls sharply in England and Wales – The Guardian

‘Use of non-custodial sentences in England and Wales has fallen sharply but risen significantly in Scotland, according to a report highlighting their effectiveness in preventing re-offending. The comparative study by the Centre for Justice Innovation reveals that over the past decade there has been a 24% decrease in the number of community sentences imposed in England and Wales compared with an 18% increase in Scotland.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 3rd November 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Youth Justice System ‘Falls Short’ of Human Rights Obligations, MPs Claim – Rights Info

‘The current system of disclosing past convictions undermines the principles of the youth justice system, according to a report published today by the Justice Committee.’

Full Story

Rights Info, 27th October 2017

Source: rightsinfo.org

Ex-prisoners lack support, says probation head – BBC News

Posted October 13th, 2017 in news, probation, rehabilitation by tracey

‘Too many prisoners leaving jail are merely being “signposted” towards rehabilitation services, the head of the Probation Service has admitted.’

Full Story

BBC News, 13th October 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Prison ‘reboot’ may free up 7,000 prison places, says thinktank – The Guardian

Posted September 14th, 2017 in criminal justice, news, prisons, probation, rehabilitation, reports by tracey

‘A “reboot” of the government’s “rehabilitation revolution”, including the early release of well-behaved prisoners, could free up more than 7,000 prison places, according to the latest report from a centre-right thinktank.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 14th September 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Ex-footballer Chris Killen spared jail after sex attack – BBC News

‘A former professional footballer has been spared jail after sexually assaulting a sleeping woman.’

Full Story

BBC News, 15th August 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Landmark review places family ties at the heart of prison reform – Ministry of Justice

Posted August 10th, 2017 in families, prisons, rehabilitation, reports by tracey

‘Ministry of Justice welcomes Lord Farmer’s recommendations to strengthen family ties to help offenders turn their lives around and protect public safety.’

Full press release

Full report

Ministry of Justice, 10th August 2017

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice