MEASURES PROPOSED TO ENABLE A ‘TECH-LED APPROACH TO JUSTICE’A range of measures to enable a ‘tech-led approach to justice’ were explored last month at a meeting chaired by Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood. Attendees discussed wearable technologies, behaviour monitoring … |
EXPLORING THE OPERATIONAL REALITIES OF NEW SENTENCING RECOMMENDATIONSFollowing David Gauke’s sentencing recommendations, The Howard League for Penal Reform has examined how they might soon translate into operational reality. The following review recommendations are estimated to save between 9,000 and 10,000 … |
PROPOSALS TO END THE DETENTION OF IPP PRISONERS ANNOUNCEDAn expert working group led by a former Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales has recently come forward with considered proposals to end the long-running IPP scandal for good. The … |
2024 IMB ANNUAL REPORT REVEALS SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS ACROSS PRISON ESTATEThe Independent Monitoring Board has now published its Annual Report, noting the ‘appalling’ physical condition of prisons in England and Wales, increased violence and drug use, as well as insufficient resettlement support. Key … |
RESEARCH EXPLORES THE EXPERIENCE OF HOPE FOR OLDER PRISONERS ON LIFE SENTENCESNew research explores how older prisoners serving life sentences experience hope – particularly when faced with the prospect of dying in prison. Findings show that older prisoners describe day-to-day hope as opportunities … |
NEW RESEARCH CALLS FOR BETTER DIGITAL ACCESS IN PRISONSNew research into digital access in prisons has highlighted the challenges faced by prisoners on release when they are denied internet access in custody – and has called for a … |
NEW DOCUMENTARY SEES FORMER WOMEN PRISONERS RETURN TO HOLLOWAY‘Holloway’ sees six former prisoners return to the cells where they were once held, to explore how they each ended up imprisoned there as young women. The women discuss their … |
NEW PODCAST EXPLORES THE EXPERIENCE OF FATHERS IN PRISONThe new ‘Fathers Together’ podcast focuses on the experiences of five fathers from racially minoritised communities who became young dads in custody. The podcast explores how they stayed connected to … |
YOUNG OFFENDERS AT HMP SWINFEN HALL ARE ‘DE-HUMANISED’ BY VIOLENCE, SAY MOTHERSYoung offenders at HMP Swinfen Hall have been stabbed, ‘dehumanised’ and are ‘becoming more violent’ in order to survive, according to a recent article published in The Guardian. Three mothers of … |
WOMEN HAND-CUFFED DURING LABOUR SUE GOVERNMENTA pregnant woman who ‘begged’ prison officers to remove her handcuffs as she went into labour is one of five women suing the Government. The former prisoner of HMP Bronzefield … |
GOVERNMENT PUBLISHES MUCH-ANTICIPATED SENTENCING REVIEWThe government has recently published its much-anticipated Independent Sentencing Review, led by the former Lord Chancellor, David Gauke. The Review’s principal task has been to solve the current overcrowding crisis in … |
Proposed Powers to Compel Sentencing Attendance Raise Serious Prison Safety ConcernsIn July 2024, the government committed to new legislation requiring convicted people to attend their sentencing hearings. As of May 2025, the proposed measures were incorporated into the Victims and … |