In this month's edition...
Clinks has held two roundtable events with voluntary organisations to inform our response to the Ministry of Justice’s Prisons Strategy White Paper. In November, Clinks wrote to the Minister to raise concerns about the lack of formal consultation in the development of their long-term strategy for prisons, so we are pleased this White Paper provides an opportunity for the voluntary sector to shape a crucial area of policy. Read the White Paper and find out how you can submit a response by 4th February here.
The Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group Special Interest Group (SIG) on Covid-19 met in January, where members of the SIG heard from officials about prison regimes and vaccinations. Notes from this meeting will be made available on the Clinks website soon.
Later in January, Clinks is holding an event to explore HM Prison and Probation Service’s (HMPPS) guidance on commissioning through grants. Clinks has long promoted the advantages of grants for commissioning and at the meeting we will hear from a variety of voluntary organisations, funders, and policy experts to provide feedback to HMPPS on how to best utilise grants through commissioning frameworks.
The RR3 is also facilitating a roundtable discussion with HMPPS on its draft guidance for the Probation Service to commission services for racially minoritised people. This session will bring together organisations led by and focussed on racially minoritised people to provide feedback on this guidance from HMPPS.
Nicola Drinkwater has left her role as Policy Manager, after working to champion the voluntary sector over a number of years at Clinks. Nicola has taken up a new position within the sector and we wish her well in her new role. We are currently in the process of recruiting for an Influence and Policy Manager.
Public Accounts Committee inquiry into women in the criminal justice system The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is undertaking an inquiry on improving outcomes for women in the criminal justice system. The PAC will explore whether the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has a clear plan for how it will achieve the objectives of its Female Offender Strategy, published in 2018. It will look at whether the strategy is being delivered in line with the MoJ’s plans, and whether the MoJ is on track meet the objectives and achieve the benefits it sets out. As part of this inquiry, the PAC has launched a call for evidence and invites submissions until 26th January 2022.
Consultation on reforms to the Human Rights Act The Ministry of Justice has published a report from the Independent Human Rights Act Review (IHRAR) as well as a consultation on changes to the Human Rights Act 1998. The consultation looks at a range of possible amendments, including exploring ways to “make sure deportations that are in the public interest are not frustrated by human rights claims”. The government is also consulting on proposals to mention the responsibilities and/or conduct of claimants, and reducing or removing damages on the basis of them. The consultation closes on 8th March 2022.
Ministry of Justice Annual Report The MoJ has published its annual report for 2020/21, setting out its financial statements and giving an analysis of its performance against its six system outcomes. Under the reduce reoffending outcome, the MoJ highlights, amongst other things, its work on accommodation for people leaving prison; the £50 million it is investing to enhance approved premises, provide temporary accommodation, and enhance resettlement support; and the £20 million investment into the Prison Leavers Project. On the outcome focussing on decent and safe prisons, the MoJ notes the commencement of the first phase of the Security Investment Programme, the implementation of the Offender Management in Custody programme, and applying learning from the pandemic to improve safety and security.
HM Prison and Probation Service Annual Report HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) has also published its annual report and accounts for 2020/21. In this report, HMPPS has reported on its performance against its four principles, which are: enable people to be their best; an open learning culture, transform through partnerships; and modernise our estates and technologies. This report shows that HMPPS’s net expenditure in 2020/21 was £4.6 billion, with £3.2 billion being spent on prisons and £1.1 billion being spent on probation. It also sets out that the recruitment of probation officer trainees in 2020/21 was increased from 600 to 1,000. Moreover, the report highlights that each of the 12 Regional Probation Directors was allocated £100,000 to support the work of specialist voluntary sector organisations working with racially minoritised people on probation.
Clinks Publications
Supporting families and maternal imprisonment Clinks has published two further additions to our online evidence library. Jane Dominey, Sophie Ellis and Caroline Lanskey from the Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge have provided up-to-date evidence on the impact of criminal justice involvement on the families of people in prison and on probation. Dr Lucy Baldwin from De Montfort University has provided an in-depth look at the impact of maternal imprisonment on the children affected, the mothers themselves and the family members who take over childcare responsibilities. The online evidence library, curated by Russell Webster on behalf of Clinks, is designed to support voluntary organisations working in the criminal justice system with access to the most up-to-date evidence about a range of topics.
Covid-19
The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman on the second wave of Covid-19 The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) has published a Learning lessons bulletin, looking at the second wave of Covid-19 related deaths, between 8th October 2020 and 20th April 2021. The PPO has considered a death to be Covid-19 related if it is listed on the death certificate or post-mortem report as either the cause of, or contributory factor to, the death. The PPO investigated 107 Covid-19 related deaths in this period, of which 106 were people in prison, and one was a resident at a probation Approved Premises. From its review, the lessons to be learnt included ensuring positive Covid-19 tests are recorded in individuals’ medical records, and ensuring all people in prison with suspected or confirmed Covid-19 are regularly monitored by healthcare staff through recorded clinical observation.
Prisons
Disciplinary adjudications in prisons The MoJ has published research on the impact of prison adjudications (the process for managing breaches of prison rules), looking at data for over 6,000 people in prison who were subjects of proven adjudications between June and July 2017, over a 10-month follow-up period. The report found, for the whole sample overall, those who received suspended adjudication awards appeared to have a lower propensity for further breaches of prison rules than those who received immediate sanctions. Moreover, people who experienced cellular confinement had poorer outcomes, and people who received cautions had better outcomes compared to people who had their privileges removed. The report notes limitations which mean causal conclusions cannot be drawn, but suggest implications for HMPPS policy and practice include taking a more rehabilitative approach to addressing misconduct.
Youth custody
Abuse in children’s institutional settings Article 39 has published a report looking at allegations of abuse against children in institutional settings, including Young Offenders Institutions (YOIs) and Secure Training Centres (STCs). Through Freedom of Information requests to local authorities, Article 39 found that there were 1,305 allegations of abuse against children in YOIs and STCs between 2018 and 2021, with 355 allegations in 2020/21. It notes this figure is likely to be an underestimate because one local authority with a YOI did not provide any data for 2020/21. Article 39’s recommendations include the need for the Department of Education to routinely collect and publish data on allegations of abuse and the outcomes, relating to all children’s institutional settings.
Human rights
Equality and Human Rights Commission Human Rights Tracker The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has updated its Human Rights Tracker, which looks at the progress of the UK government in meeting its international human rights obligations since the last round of UN reviews in 2016. Based on evidence available up to the end of September 2021, the EHRC has assessed that there has been a regression with regards to human rights and criminal justice institutions. Amongst other things, the EHRC notes limited time out of cells, overcrowding, poor conditions, use of force, solitary confinement, and self-harm in prisons are commonplace, and, in some cases, increasingly frequent. However, the EHRC identifies some positive policy developments, such as reforms to probation and the Female Offender Strategy, but it observes that implementation “remains slow”.
Young adults
Interplay between poverty, inequality, and repeat contact with policing Revolving Doors Agency has published a report that looks at young adults and the relationships between poverty, inequality and repeat contact with policing. This combined a review of academic literature with peer-led qualitative research. The young adults who took part in the research highlighted that young adults in repeat contact with the police felt let down by people they know and services they (try to) access. They reported feeling optimistic about their chances of breaking a cycle of crisis and crime but are impatient for change. The report includes recommendations that were developed alongside young people, including a recommendation for police services to partner with community organisations that support young adults, and are trusted and embedded in the community.
Building a better future for people in the criminal justice system See highlights from our Annual conference and AGM 2021 in our latest blog. Clinks’ Annual conference brings together people working in the criminal justice system – from the voluntary sector and beyond – to stimulate ideas, celebrate outstanding work and learn from each other. This year we were delighted to welcome more than 250 people over three days of activities. Thank you to everyone who joined us, including our wonderful speakers, fantastic workshop leaders, and everyone who participated by listening, asking questions and sharing ideas. You can watch the video recording of the first day of our Annual conference and AGM in full at the end of the blog.
Not a great year for prison reform Rob Allen has written a blog exploring the actions that have been taken with regards to prison reform over the course of 2021. He highlights the projections for a significantly larger prison population by 2025, and the money the Treasury is putting towards building more prison places. Allen argues that this money could be spend more effectively in other ways. He also notes that the new prison places will not necessarily replace unsuitable, older places. More positively, Allen discusses the expanding reunified probation service, a new generation of problem solving courts, new arrangements for out-of-court disposals, and an announcement from the Sentencing Council to set the consideration and collation of evidence on effectiveness of sentencing as one of its strategic objectives for 2021-2026.
The power of her name Vanisha Smith, Employability Coach at Working Chance, has published a blog looking at the importance of pronouncing names correctly, particularly looking at how this affects the women she works with. She explains that asking how to correctly pronounce someone’s name is a key part of establishing a relationship in a mutually respectful way, and is an opportunity for a woman to reclaim the power of her name. Smith describes how many of the women she works with have been negatively impacted by being referred to by their prison number or having their name pronounced incorrectly – affecting their confidence and self-esteem. Therefore, she argues that having their name pronounced correctly, and correcting when it is mispronounced, is a powerful way for women to take back control of their own lives and reclaim their identity.
10 things we learnt from the Home Office Annual Report 2020/21 Following the publication of the Home Office’s Annual Report for the previous financial year, Russell Webster has written a blog that highlights some of the key points. This includes noting that restoring confidence in the criminal justice system is one of the Home Office’s primary objectives. In addition, Webster highlights that crime levels were broadly stable, with a 6% fall in police-recorded crime (but much of this was during the first national lockdown). The report also sets out that, as of March 2021, 8,771 additional police officers had been recruited as part of the government’s target to recruit 20,000 additional officers. Webster also notes the increase in the number of drug seizures made by Border Force and police forces, rising 20% in 2019/20.
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Written monthly by...
Clinks' Policy Officers Franklin Barrington and Noorjehan Piperdy
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