Archive for the ‘Prisons’ Category

Inspection report on Hindley prison

The chief inspector of prisons has published an inspection report on Hindley, the biggest prison for children in Europe. Firstly, we should be ashamed that in England we have the biggest child jail in Europe. There are nearly ten times the number of children incarcerated in this one prison than in the whole of Italy. [...]

March 26, 2010  Tags: , ,   Posted in: Children and young people, Prisons  No Comments

Less crime, safer communities, fewer people in prison

We have launched our new campaign, which you can find by visiting our website.В  Please take two minutes to take action for the Howard League and help us put penal reform at the top of the political agenda during the general election and beyond.

March 5, 2010  Tags:   Posted in: Campaigns, Children and young people, Government policy, Howard League, Overcrowding, Prisons, Public Services, Rehabilitation, Sentencing, Victims  No Comments

No discernable progress

I thought readers of this blog would be interested in some highlights (or lowlights indeed) on how children and young adults are treated in the prison system, according to the latest annual report of the Chief Inspector of Prisons:
Children
Although there has been a drop in overall numbers, the number of children serving long term sentences [...]

February 24, 2010  Tags: , ,   Posted in: Inside prisons, Prisons, Uncategorized  No Comments

Lap dancing clubs and local powers

New powers for local authorities to refuse permission for a lap dancing club will be introduced in April. I think this is a welcome move for several reasons. I agree with Harriet Harman that local people should be able to decide for themselves if they want a sleazy club in the neighbourhood. It should be [...]

February 12, 2010  Tags: ,   Posted in: Government policy, Prisons  No Comments

Imprisoning charities

Yesterday morning I had a fascinating meeting with the Charity Commission about whether charities should manage prisons.В  I went with Kevin Curley and others from NAVCA and met with Suzi Leather and her team.В  We sought the meeting because we are concerned that two charities, Turning Point and Catch 22, have joined with Serco to [...]

February 3, 2010  Tags: , ,   Posted in: Government policy, Prisons, Public Services, Rehabilitation, Uncategorized  6 Comments

No fantasyland

The prisons inspectorate is publishing its inspection of a unit inside a prison that holds young girls – the Rivendell (yes, land of the elves) unit inside New Hall prison today.
Whilst the report is broadly favourable, it should be seen in the context of prisons being totally the wrong environment for young girls. The Howard [...]

January 29, 2010  Tags: ,   Posted in: Inside prisons, Prisons  No Comments

A new face at the top

Phil Wheatley, director general of the national offender management service (NOMS), has announced he is to retire later this year.В  I wish him well in his retirement.
This offers a tremendous opportunity for change in the criminal justice system.В  A new person at the top could inject some energy into a programme of reform based on [...]

January 18, 2010  Tags: , , , ,   Posted in: Government policy, Prisons, Public Services  2 Comments

The Archers and prison visits

The Archers prison based storyline is interesting at the moment because it is focusing on the problems that families face. Matt Crawford is serving a sentence for fraud and spent a few weeks initially in a local prison. His partner, Lilian, had terrible problems finding out when she could visit and what she could send [...]

December 16, 2009  Tags: , ,   Posted in: Inside prisons, Prisons  4 Comments

A story

I thought I might tell you a story.В  Once upon a time there was a man who did something bad, very bad. It was a once in a lifetime explosion of anger, and he killed the person he loved.
His penalty was a life prison sentence.В  He served the years, many years, many many years.В  As [...]

December 12, 2009  Tags:   Posted in: Inside prisons, Prisons  6 Comments

Pre-budget report

The pre-budget report yesterday included indications of significant cuts in public expenditure, and whilst health and education, quite rightly, looks likely to avoid the worst effects of the economic downturn, the penal system is going to be a victim. The chancellor said that he would protect front line policing and that is the largest part [...]

December 10, 2009  Tags:   Posted in: Government policy, Prisons, Public Services  One Comment