Law and Rights
The Guardian has published an interview with Sion Jenkins - The Guardian 20th August 2010 " Sion Jenkins: I don't want sympathy from anyone ". Law and Lawyers touched upon this matter a few days ago - see here - The Jack of Kent blog also carries a post - well worth a look.
In several ways, this is a disturbing case. The interview with Sion Jenkins gives his account of his time in prison and he talks about his compensation being refused by the Ministry of Justice. He states that he was subjected to violence from other prisoners and refers to dirty conditions in which he was, at one stage, held. He further comments that he was asked which prison he would wish to go to. Upon saying - anywhere but Wakefield - he was taken to Wakefield which, as it happened, did not turn out to be as bad as he feared.
I do not know whether the actual comments made by Jenkins are all true but there are many similar stories from many others. This ought to be raising the very serious question of just what sort of regime should exist in modern prisons and about the ability (or maybe willingness) of the prison authorities to protect certain prisoners and to ensure that their RIGHTS IN PRISON are safeguarded.
A good text on Prisoner's Rights is "Prisoners: law and practice" - Simon Creighton and Hamish Arnott - Legal Action Group. The BBC's " Five live " looked at prisoner's safety earlier this year. The Daily Mail - 8th June - published an article about prisoners converting to Islam in order to win "perks" and to get protection. The Daily Mail's article followed a report from the Inspectorate of Prisons. There are Independent Monitoring Boards to monitor conditions in prisons - see their website for further. The IMBs replaced Boards of Visitors some years ago - some of the background may be read here. The management of prisoners is the remit of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS).
- A Shabby Episode Comes To An End
Just Solutions International: The Ministry of Justice is bringing to an end Just Solutions International (JSi). The Guardian 10th September reported - " ... The commercial arm of the Ministry of Justice ? which has been criticised for selling British...
- Solitary Confinement In Prisons + Legal Aid For Prisoners
The UK Supreme Court has handed down judgment in R (Bourgass and another) v Secretary of State for Justice [2015] UKSC 54. Two prisoners - Bourgass and Hussain - had been held in solitary confinement for lengthy periods well in excess of the 72 hours...
- Mr Gove, "will Policy Come To Match The Rhetoric?"
The Secretary of State for Justice / Lord Chancellor (Michael Gove) has spoken about prisons and reform - The Treasure in the Heart of Man - Making prisons work. All that remains, in this difficult financial climate, is to match the splendid rhetoric...
- Indeterminate Sentences For Public Protection
Law and Lawyers has no hesitation in drawing to the readers attention an excellent post on the Brian Barder Blog which sets out the iniquities of the system of imprisonment known as Indeterminate Sentence for Public Protection (or IPP). This form of "indeterminate...
- The Armed Forces To Continue To Exist ....!
It is an interesting quirk of English law that it is necessary for Parliament to renew the existence of the Armed Forces of the Crown. This is usually done annually. The government is now taking the appropriate steps to renew them until 8th...
Law and Rights
Sion Jenkins' Guardian interview - prisoner's rights
In several ways, this is a disturbing case. The interview with Sion Jenkins gives his account of his time in prison and he talks about his compensation being refused by the Ministry of Justice. He states that he was subjected to violence from other prisoners and refers to dirty conditions in which he was, at one stage, held. He further comments that he was asked which prison he would wish to go to. Upon saying - anywhere but Wakefield - he was taken to Wakefield which, as it happened, did not turn out to be as bad as he feared.
I do not know whether the actual comments made by Jenkins are all true but there are many similar stories from many others. This ought to be raising the very serious question of just what sort of regime should exist in modern prisons and about the ability (or maybe willingness) of the prison authorities to protect certain prisoners and to ensure that their RIGHTS IN PRISON are safeguarded.
A good text on Prisoner's Rights is "Prisoners: law and practice" - Simon Creighton and Hamish Arnott - Legal Action Group. The BBC's " Five live " looked at prisoner's safety earlier this year. The Daily Mail - 8th June - published an article about prisoners converting to Islam in order to win "perks" and to get protection. The Daily Mail's article followed a report from the Inspectorate of Prisons. There are Independent Monitoring Boards to monitor conditions in prisons - see their website for further. The IMBs replaced Boards of Visitors some years ago - some of the background may be read here. The management of prisoners is the remit of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS).
- A Shabby Episode Comes To An End
Just Solutions International: The Ministry of Justice is bringing to an end Just Solutions International (JSi). The Guardian 10th September reported - " ... The commercial arm of the Ministry of Justice ? which has been criticised for selling British...
- Solitary Confinement In Prisons + Legal Aid For Prisoners
The UK Supreme Court has handed down judgment in R (Bourgass and another) v Secretary of State for Justice [2015] UKSC 54. Two prisoners - Bourgass and Hussain - had been held in solitary confinement for lengthy periods well in excess of the 72 hours...
- Mr Gove, "will Policy Come To Match The Rhetoric?"
The Secretary of State for Justice / Lord Chancellor (Michael Gove) has spoken about prisons and reform - The Treasure in the Heart of Man - Making prisons work. All that remains, in this difficult financial climate, is to match the splendid rhetoric...
- Indeterminate Sentences For Public Protection
Law and Lawyers has no hesitation in drawing to the readers attention an excellent post on the Brian Barder Blog which sets out the iniquities of the system of imprisonment known as Indeterminate Sentence for Public Protection (or IPP). This form of "indeterminate...
- The Armed Forces To Continue To Exist ....!
It is an interesting quirk of English law that it is necessary for Parliament to renew the existence of the Armed Forces of the Crown. This is usually done annually. The government is now taking the appropriate steps to renew them until 8th...