News May 9, 2018 UK: violence at Feltham prison drops after sweet rewards Levels of violence at a young offenders institution dropped after teenagers were given sweets for good behaviour, inspectors found.
News May 2, 2018 UK: nearly 100 women die in prison over 11-year period due to ‘glaring failures’ 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.
News May 2, 2018 UK: solitary confinement of children and young people 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.
News May 2, 2018 UK: MoJ postpones plans to reduce female prison population 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.
News May 1, 2018 UK: how prison changes people 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.…
News April 23, 2018 Britain's prison crisis caused by "poor political decisions" by Conservatives and huge cuts, former head of jails says Former director-general of HM Prison Service says violence driven by ‘budget cuts, poor political decisions and frequent changes of political direction’
News April 21, 2018 UK: mental health facilities ‘seriously deficient’ 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.
News April 13, 2018 UK: chemical castration of sex offenders re-examined 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.
News March 22, 2018 UK: six prisoners kill themselves in less than two years at notorious jail amid "severe overcrowding", watchdog finds 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.
News March 8, 2018 The first images of Scotland’s first ‘alternative prison’ for women 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.
News March 1, 2018 UK: prison reform is long overdue. Let's invest in communities instead The number of people sent to prison in England and Wales has more than doubled at a terrible cost to taxpayers and society.
News February 25, 2018 UK: why we should teach philosophy to prisoners (Kirstine Szifris) “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.
News February 8, 2018 Au Royaume-Uni, les entreprises privées assurant des services publics se portent mal This article is not available in English. If you wish, you can consult the French version.
News January 31, 2018 UK: probation Prisoner stabbed to death at Wormwood Scrubs in London Incident follows concerns over high levels of violence at prison including attacks on staff.
News January 31, 2018 UK: collapsed trial woman says she gave birth "alone" in prison 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.
News January 23, 2018 UK: Female prison inmates subject to "excessive strip-searching" despite many being victims of sexual abuse 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.
News January 19, 2018 UK: How Liverpool prison became UK's 'worst jail' 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.
News January 15, 2018 UK : Woman jailed for setting bed on fire 'killed herself in prison' Inquest hears Emily Hartley, 21, who had mental health problems, had been sentenced for breaking bail conditions.
News December 31, 2017 UK: ‘prison works’ is an outdated concept that benefits no one The best community penalties reduce reoffending rates via repentance and payback.
News December 28, 2017 UK: one in five female prisoners are homeless after release, data shows Labour attacks ‘shocking’ failure of privatised probation companies after proportion doubles in a year.
News December 19, 2017 UK: conditions at Liverpool prison the worst ever inspected, says report Inspectors describe ‘squalid’ state of jail including rat and cockroach infestations and damp cells with exposed wiring.
News December 19, 2017 Smoking ban cannot be enforced in jails, UK supreme court rules Inmate loses attempt to enforce ban in prisons after court says crown premises are exempt.
News December 6, 2017 UK: teaching in a prison, education has the best chance of turning lives around Emily Dewar-Langridge teaches young offenders at Feltham prison, and has won an award for the difference she’s made to students. Here, she explains her role.
News December 1, 2017 UK : Edmund Clark’s immersive study of prison life goes on show at the Ikon Gallery “We are a faceless, forgotten part of society,” says one of the inmates at HMP Grendon, where Edmund Clark has been artist-in-residence for the last three years; his work at the prison is now going on show in Birmingham.