May 23, 2018 UK: Brook House, detainees win bid for abuse inquiry News United Kingdom Two former detainees at an immigration centre have won the first stage of a High Court bid for a public inquiry into alleged “widespread” abuse.
May 20, 2018 UK: hundreds of homeless people fined and imprisoned in England and Wales News United Kingdom The Guardian finds over 50 local authorities with PSPOs in place prohibiting begging and loitering
May 12, 2018 UK: we are locked into failure and prisons are not working News United Kingdom We need to make sure our jails are safe, clean and fit for purpose and then debate what they’re for.
May 9, 2018 UK: violence at Feltham prison drops after sweet rewards News Violence United Kingdom Levels of violence at a young offenders institution dropped after teenagers were given sweets for good behaviour, inspectors found.
May 2, 2018 UK: nearly 100 women die in prison over 11-year period due to ‘glaring failures’ News Women United Kingdom More than 10 years after major review outlined need for more holistic approach to vulnerable women in custody, there has been ‘little systemic change’ as female inmates ‘continue to die’, warns charity.
May 2, 2018 UK: solitary confinement of children and young people News Discipline United Kingdom Last week, in a joint statement, the British Medical Association (BMA), the Royal College of Psychiatrists, and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health called for an end to the solitary confinement of children and young people held in UK detention facilities.
May 2, 2018 UK: MoJ postpones plans to reduce female prison population News Women United Kingdom Strategy to cut numbers being jailed for non-violent offences was to be launched this month. A multimillion pound government strategy to reduce the number of women being jailed for non-violent offences has been postponed, the Guardian can disclose.
May 1, 2018 UK: how prison changes people News United Kingdom Longer and harsher prison sentences can mean that prisoners’ personalities will be changed in ways that make their reintegration difficult, finds Christian Jarrett. Day after day, year after year, imagine having no space to call your own, no choice over who to be with, what to eat, or where to go.…
April 23, 2018 Britain's prison crisis caused by "poor political decisions" by Conservatives and huge cuts, former head of jails says News United Kingdom Former director-general of HM Prison Service says violence driven by ‘budget cuts, poor political decisions and frequent changes of political direction’
April 21, 2018 UK: mental health facilities ‘seriously deficient’ News Health Mental health United Kingdom Mental Health Reform says it is “deeply concerned” that some vulnerable people still live in “mini-institutions” where there is no respect for their privacy or dignity.
April 13, 2018 UK: chemical castration of sex offenders re-examined News United Kingdom Treating sex offenders with chemical castration is to be reviewed by the Scottish Government amid a clamour to increase its use after the row over the planned release of rapist John Worboys.
March 22, 2018 UK: six prisoners kill themselves in less than two years at notorious jail amid "severe overcrowding", watchdog finds News Health Overcrowding United Kingdom Campaigners say “appalling” death toll in HMP Leeds a “direct result” of severe overcrowding as inspectors reveal 1,127 men are held against certified normal capacity of 669.
March 8, 2018 The first images of Scotland’s first ‘alternative prison’ for women News Women United Kingdom The first images of Scotland’s first ‘alternative prison’ for women which will be built in Maryhill have been revealed by the Scottish Prison Service.
March 1, 2018 UK: prison reform is long overdue. Let's invest in communities instead News United Kingdom The number of people sent to prison in England and Wales has more than doubled at a terrible cost to taxpayers and society.
February 25, 2018 UK: why we should teach philosophy to prisoners (Kirstine Szifris) News United Kingdom “I taught philosophy to prisoners, and I know it can help end the damaging macho prison culture” As with other forms of educational experience, in the classroom they could be – for a short time – philosophers as opposed to offenders or prisoners.
February 8, 2018 Au Royaume-Uni, les entreprises privées assurant des services publics se portent mal News Europe United Kingdom This article is not available in English. If you wish, you can consult the French version.
January 31, 2018 UK: probation Prisoner stabbed to death at Wormwood Scrubs in London News United Kingdom Incident follows concerns over high levels of violence at prison including attacks on staff.
January 31, 2018 UK: collapsed trial woman says she gave birth "alone" in prison News United Kingdom A woman held in custody for more than 13 months before her trial collapsed has told the BBC she hopes someone will be punished for the failures which led to her giving birth in prison.
January 23, 2018 UK: Female prison inmates subject to "excessive strip-searching" despite many being victims of sexual abuse News Women United Kingdom Campaigners call for policy of routine strip searching to be revised as “matter of urgency” after prison watchdog finds “disappointingly” high use of practice on women.
January 19, 2018 UK: How Liverpool prison became UK's 'worst jail' News United Kingdom The damning report on Liverpool prison by HM Inspectorate of Prisons, published on Friday, says conditions in the establishment are “squalid”. But this is just the latest in a series of major problems faced by the jail.
January 15, 2018 UK : Woman jailed for setting bed on fire 'killed herself in prison' News United Kingdom Inquest hears Emily Hartley, 21, who had mental health problems, had been sentenced for breaking bail conditions.
December 31, 2017 UK: ‘prison works’ is an outdated concept that benefits no one News United Kingdom The best community penalties reduce reoffending rates via repentance and payback.
December 28, 2017 UK: one in five female prisoners are homeless after release, data shows News Topic Women United Kingdom Labour attacks ‘shocking’ failure of privatised probation companies after proportion doubles in a year.
December 19, 2017 UK: conditions at Liverpool prison the worst ever inspected, says report News Material conditions United Kingdom Inspectors describe ‘squalid’ state of jail including rat and cockroach infestations and damp cells with exposed wiring.