Our prisons are subject to two main forms of independent scrutiny. The first is Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons which reports on conditions for treatment of all people detained by the criminal justice system – whether they are in prison, youth custody, immigration detention or a police or court custody… Work with Offenders looks at the important role that IMBs play in keeping our prisons safe...
Members of Parliament have added their voice to that of penal reform groups who have been calling for some time for the government to change its approach to coronavirus in prisons. The influential Joint Committee on Human Rights has just published a new report formally titled: “the Government’s response to… Work with Offenders reviews a new report from MPs...
Last week, the Lord Chancellor Robert Buckland outlined a 'renewal for justice' as courts harness increased investment, improved technology and a range of emergency measures to recover from the coronavirus pandemic. It comes as Her Majesty’s Court and Tribunal Service (HMCTS) publishes a recovery plan that charts the progress made… Work with Offenders looks at the Ministry of Justice's newly announced “renewal for justice”...
The Ministry of Justice has announced four new prisons are to be built across England over the next six years. This announcement seems to be part of the government strategy of investing in infrastructure in order to regenerate the economy which is reeling under the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.… Work with Offenders looks into the detail of the announcement to build new prisons....
Every quarter, the Ministry of Justice and the Office of National Statistics publishes a statistical bulletin on activity in our criminal courts. Today’ edition covers the first three months (January to March) of this year. Although the coronavirus pandemic only started to have an impact on the way courts were… Work with offenders digs into the detail of today’s statistics....
One of the consequences of the prison lockdown which has now been going on for three full months with most prisoners basically restricted to their cell for 23 hours a day, is that prisoner have not been attending hospital appointments. Lack of staff, combined with COVID-19 restrictions, has resulted in… Work with offenders looks at new research from University College London...
The Howard League for Penal Reform and the Prison Reform Trust has called on the government to end the “inhumane and untenable” practice during the COVID-19 outbreak. As an alternative, the charities urged the government to increase the number of people freed from prison to finish their sentences in community… Campaigners have called for the prison system to find alternatives to the use of solitary confinement during the COVID-19 outbreak....
Yesterday the Ministry of Justice published two key reports into violence in youth custody. Pain-inducing techniques The first report, undertaken by Charlie Taylor – the man responsible for the most recent (2016) major review into the justice system who argued for a network of secure schools to replace the current… Work with Offenders looks at two new reports which aim to reduce conflict in young offenders institutions...
In the wake of the George Floyd killing and the global Black Lives Matter protests against systemic racism in the criminal justice system, we thought readers would be interested in the latest facts and figures about racial disparity in the English and Welsh system. Almost three years ago, in September… Work with Offenders looks at the latest facts and figures...
The row about the use of incapacitant sprays in prison reignited over the weekend after the Prison Service appeared to go back on a commitment made in April that the implementation of the controversial measure would be halted for at least three months due to the impact of coronavirus. On… Work with Offenders investigates the latest episode in the ongoing debate about the use of PAVA spray in prison...