Prisons & Probation – Latest News:
- Tue, 09 Aug 2022 09:00:23 +0000: ‘I remember feeling incensed’: the woman who spent 18 years learning about forgiveness in the face of atrocity - Prisons and probation | The Guardian
Since 2004, Marina Cantacuzino has interviewed the families of terrorist victims and survivors of domestic violence to learn why some people can pardon those who have hurt them. What has she discovered?
How does someone whose child has been murdered find a way to forgive? What if you lose a loved one in a senseless act of terrorism or the state murders them? How do you forgive your father for killing your mother? And why are high-profile people who forgive often criticised and abused – as if they are denying society its right to vengeance?
Marina Cantacuzino sought answers to these questions when she founded the Forgiveness Project as a charity in 2004. Through it, she shared stories of forgiveness from survivors and perpetrators of crimes. A few years later, she put on the F-Word exhibition, a series of images exploring forgiveness in the face of atrocity. She has now published a book, Forgiveness: An Exploration. What she has found is that there is no single answer to any of these questions.
Continue reading... - Mon, 01 Aug 2022 23:31:01 +0000: Charities warn against ministers getting powers to stop early release from jail - Prisons and probation | The Guardian
Measure would stop prisoners from being let out automatically part-way through sentences if deemed a threat to public
Charities have warned against new powers that would allow ministers to block the automatic release of dangerous prisoners and potentially make them serve their full sentence.
The rule change is part of measures introduced to protect the public and would allow ministers to override judges’ fixed-term sentences that set automatic release dates at halfway or two-thirds through offenders’ jail terms.
Continue reading... - Mon, 25 Jul 2022 23:01:49 +0000: Women offenders still being jailed despite pledge to cut prisoner numbers, say MPs - Prisons and probation | The Guardian
Justice committee says little progress made on developing alternatives to custodial sentences as female prison population predicted to rise by a third
Ministers have made little progress developing alternatives to custodial sentences for women, MPs have concluded, amid official predictions that the female prison population may rise by a third in the next three years.
The Conservative-led justice select committee said “there is yet to be any clear evidence” that women are being diverted away from jail despite promises to develop other methods of punishment and rehabilitation.
Continue reading... - Sun, 24 Jul 2022 10:00:03 +0000: Prison criticised after suicide watch inmate who died was allowed razors - Prisons and probation | The Guardian
Inquest into death of prisoner at HMP Chelmsford finds officers were unaware access to blades should have been monitored
An inquest into the death of a remand prisoner who had been on suicide and self-harm watch shortly before he died has criticised prison officers for being unaware that his access to razor blades should have been monitored.
Lance Clark, 53, died on 28 November 2019 of a haemorrhage after he self-harmed with a razor while in prison on remand at HMP Chelmsford, Essex. The jury, which sat for two weeks, concluded that prison and mental healthcare staff did not manage Clark’s risk of self-harm appropriately, which probably contributed to his death.
In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org.
Continue reading... - Sat, 23 Jul 2022 12:04:33 +0000: Parole changes in England and Wales present ‘clear danger to the public’, unions tell Raab - Prisons and probation | The Guardian
Under new rules, panels will rarely receive psychologists’ and probation officers’ recommendations
Dominic Raab has been accused of a “catastrophic” decision that experts say profoundly undermines public safety by allowing prisoners to abscond and others to commit serious offences while on parole.
In a strongly worded letter to the justice secretary, three unions castigate a “momentous and dangerous” move by Raab to ban psychologists, prison staff and probation officers from informing the Parole Board whether they believe prisoners should be released.
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