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Justice Select Committee…Part two
This morning I was pleased to attend the Justice Select Committee meeting. It was the first one with Rt Hon Michael Gove MP being called as a witness in his new role as Lord Chancellor and Secretary of...
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I used to be ‘IN’ but now I’m ‘OUT’
An antidote to the EU Referendum. The nation goes to the polls today to determine whether we Leave or Remain, but that’s all I’m saying about the European Referendum. You can think of this post as an...
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The paralysis of too many priorities.
Sat immediately behind the new Secretary of State at the Justice Select Committee (@CommonsJustice) on 07 September, I registered a lot of awkwardness that was beyond mere nervousness felt by many a...
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Has prison reform become a humanitarian issue?
Think carefully – why would people who have been released from prison want to be integrated back into a society that thinks it’s okay for them to be locked up for 23 hours a day, with little nutritious...
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The State of our Prisons: England
My general take on prisons are that they are warehouses for the vulnerable. Whatever happens in society is transferred to prisons, so if there is a problem with drugs on the outside there will...
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StandOut: Giving prisoners another chance
I am relieved that the Secretary of State for Justice, David Gauke has at last addressed some of the fundamental issues that prisoners face; job opportunities can be scarce and are often limited on...
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Why rehabilitation is important for society
Society puts people in prison and expects them to reintegrate after their sentence and not reoffend. But recidivism is high because often the root cause of offending is not addressed. Rehabilitation...
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HMP Berwyn: Does it raise more questions than it answers?
A bright summer’s day. A short car journey, a train, 2 tubes, 2 more trains and I finally arrived after more than 5 hours of travelling, into Wrexham. I’ve come to HMP Berwyn. I’m here with an open...
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Unlocked Grads: Does it raise more questions than it answers?
What is the Unlocked Grads programme? According to the website for University of Suffolk (10 September 2018) : “Unlocked Graduates is a two-year programme and students who complete the programme are...
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Monitoring of prisons has ceased
This week I was sent information issued by Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) Head of Policy and Communications Sarah Clifford, to IMB Regional Reps, Chairs and Vice Chairs detailing guidelines for all...
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Hidden Heroes: Why are they hidden and why are they heroes?
Today, 29 September 2021, is the second Hidden Heroes Day. An initiative of The Butler Trust it aims be “a National Day of Thanks for our #HiddenHeroes across the UK”. As well as Hidden Heroes Day,...
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IMB Soap Opera
Is the IMB like liquid soap? Not the wonderful clear stuff which has a beautiful fragrance and an antibacterial effect on everything it touches. No, not that. More like that gawd awful stuff you find...
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