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In this month's edition...
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. See all evidence library publications here
New Year Honours
Clinks is delighted that colleagues from across the voluntary sector and criminal justice system were recognised in the New Year Honours List 2022. Sofia Buncy, Founder of the Muslim Women in Prison Project was awarded an MBE for services to prisoners and the community in Bradford. Dr Hindpal Singh Bhui, Inspection Team Leader, HM Inspectorate of Prisons was awarded an OBE for services to custody facilities during Covid-19. The Chief Executive of NAVCA Maddy Desforges was awarded an OBE for services to volunteering and charity. Paul Reddish, Chief Executive of Volunteering Matters, was also awarded an OBE for services to the voluntary sector during Covid-19. See the full list of honours here
Covid-19 plan B update for families of people in prison
Phil Copple, Director General Prisons, has written to prisoners’ families regarding the impact of the government’s decision to move to Covid Plan B on 8th December 2021. The letter has been published on the Prisoners’ Families website and gives details of how this affects people in prison and prison visits. Read the letter here. Further to this letter, on 20th December 2021, Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service provided an additional update for families and loved ones. This update explains that all visitors aged 12 and over must now take a lateral flow test before coming to a prison and show proof that the result was negative. The update also gives details about additional phone credit, Release on temporary license, social distancing in prisons and more. Read the update here
Update on prison restrictions and testing
Further to the announcement by the Prime Minister to lift community restrictions in England by Wednesday 26th January, the implications for prisons have been carefully considered in the context of them being high risk environments for transmission of infections. Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) will continue to move cautiously and therefore no immediate changes will be implemented. However, as prison outbreaks reduce, HMPPS will work quickly to amend restrictions where safe to do so. An update on testing requirements for the voluntary sector and other operational partners is also available on request by contacting covid19@clinks.org
Accessing maternity care services
As part of the Maternity Consortium’s core work with the VCSE Health and Wellbeing Alliance, it is looking to hear from those with lived experience of accessing maternity services whilst in a custodial environment. Sands and Tommy’s Joint Policy Unit is working as part of a consortium to reduce health inequalities in maternity, and has launched a survey to understand pregnant women and birthing people’s experiences of accessing maternity services and any barriers they may have faced in getting the care they’re entitled to. Please complete a short survey survey if you’re currently pregnant or have at one time been pregnant since January 2019, or if you’re a healthcare professional/someone who has direct contact with pregnant women and birthing people and can fill this survey out with them. Take the survey here
Government changes policy on termination of IPP licences
The government has said that it will change the law regarding Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences to ensure that ten years after release, the Parole Board will automatically consider whether to terminate their licence. IPP is an indefinite sentence given to individuals that the courts considered to be high-risk for the general public but these sentences have been out of practice as of 2012. However, for those sentenced with IPP before this change, the sentence remains and individuals can be recalled decades after their initial charge leading to them serving significant prison time over their original tariff. Previously, individuals were able to apply to have their licence terminated ten years after release but less than 5% applied. The new system will reduce some of the barriers that individuals face applying. Read more here
Health and justice network meeting
Join Clinks for the next health and justice network meeting [23rd February, online, free]. This meeting is for organisations that deliver health services to people in contact with the criminal justice system, including mental and physical health services, substance misuse services, pregnancy and maternity services, services for older people, and services relating to learning disabilities. These meetings discuss health needs and inequalities facing people in the criminal justice system and how voluntary sector services address them. Information gathered at these meetings can be used to inform Clinks’ policy work. Book your place here
Gambling harm
This Academy for Social Justice seminar will explore the impact of problem gambling [2nd February, online, free]. Marguerite Regan from the Office of Health Improvement and Disparities will explore problem gambling from a health perspective, sharing findings from a recent health review on gambling-related harms. Steve Ramsey from the EPIC Restart Foundation will share the devastating consequences of problem gambling and how it can affect mental health and wellbeing. Andrea Coomber, The Howard League for Penal Reform, will discuss the interim policy findings of the Commission on Crime and Problem Gambling. Please note you must be a member of the Academy to attend an event. Membership is free and you will be prompted to join when registering. Book your place here
Young Justice Advisors resource launch
The Young Justice Advisors are holding a special event to launch their resources for young adults in the justice system [3rd February, online, free]. This event will be an exciting opportunity to hear from the Young Justice Advisors about the peer-led resources they have created. You will have a sneak preview of the first three resources that the group has created; a guide to the adult estate for young people who are making a transition; a guide to resettlement and life after prison; and a care guide for young adults who are care-experienced. You will have a chance to pose questions and get involved in discussions about how these resources can be disseminated most effectively across England and Wales. Book your place here
Covid-19 restrictions and an increase in violence in HMP Styal
A report from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons found that Covid-19 restrictions lead to an increase in violence at HMP Styal with some women with severe mental health issues ending up in ‘completely unsuitable’ conditions in segregation. Although the report states that the prison remained safe throughout the pandemic, it determined that incidents of lower-level violence increased significantly. Inspectors found that the prison took an ‘overcautious’ approach as restrictions eased, meaning that temporary licenses had been suspended, leading to many women losing their jobs outside of the prison, as well as contact with their families. However, the report found a strong leadership team in the prison that had already begun work on improving prison conditions although significant staff shortages were noted. Read the report here
Making funding work
The Making Every Adult Matter (MEAM) coalition has published a report outlining the ways in which national funding streams for homelessness and rough sleeping, substance misuse, mental health and criminal justice, can be better coordinated to achieve long-term changes to the way that services and systems work for people facing multiple disadvantage. The report draws on the experiences of areas across the MEAM Approach and Fulfilling Lives networks, with research conducted alongside experts by experience. MEAM hopes to follow-up this report by engaging with a range of government officials to create a set of policy and practice recommendations that can help funding to have an optimal impact on people facing multiple disadvantage. Clinks is a member of MEAM, alongside Mind, Homeless Link and Collective Voice. Read the report here
Independent investigation into the birth of stillborn baby B at HMP Styal
The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has published an independent investigation into the tragic birth of a stillborn baby (baby B) on 18 June 2020 at HMP Styal. Sue McAllister, Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, was concerned that there were missed opportunities to identify the urgent clinical attention that Ms B, the baby’s mother needed during that evening. However, the investigation found gaps in prison nurse training about reproductive health, long-acting reversible contraception and recognition of early labour and recommends that training is provided for nursing staff in reproductive health; including long-acting reversible contraception; and that NHS England should develop a system where a pregnancy test is routinely offered before a medication that is known to or has the potential to affect a foetus is prescribed or continued, amongst other recommendations. Read the report here
Mental Health Treatment Requirements information session
Clinks held its Mental Health Treatment Requirements (MHTR) session on the 13th January. The session was led by Mignon French, Programme Manager for the Health and Justice Non-Custodial Team, NHS England & NHS Improvement who discussed the overall aims of the programme and how it is an effective tool at reducing re-offending and diverting people away from custodial settings. Although not all regions of England are currently covered by MHTRs, it is projected that by the end of 2023 50% of the country, including 28 million people, will be able to access these services. If you have any questions about the programme or wish to learn more please email Mignon at mignon.french@nhs.net. Watch the recording here, password is Clinks2022!
Experiences of the UK care system
The full series of Leap - Confronting Conflict’s podcast is now available for you to listen to. In the six-part series, a group of friends who are all Care Experts team up with Leap - Confronting Conflict to share their experiences of the UK care system. They discuss what needs to change, what they wish they knew when they were in care, and give advice around wellbeing, relationships, and preparing for adulthood. Listen here
Building a better future for people in the criminal justice system
Watch the highlights from our Annual conference and AGM 2021 in our latest blog. Clinks’ Annual conference brought 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. Read more here
Young people in detention
Transform Justice has written a blog regarding new research that has come out from Miranda Bevan, suggesting that detention in custody for children and young people is doing considerable harm and little good. The research focuses on the claim that the point of detention is for police to have the time to find reliable evidence as to the detained individual having committed the alleged crime. However, the research found that children and young people experienced such distress during their detention that their main priority was to end the experience as quickly as possible, leading them to waiving legal advice, and making them averse to asking for clarification during questions they didn’t understand. This lead to a significant lack of trust in police officers. Read the research here and the blog here
Not a great year for prison reform
Reforming Prisons has written a blog concerning the lack of prison reform that has occurred in 2021 with prison number projections suggesting the prison population should reach 98,500 over the next four years. With the Treasury confirming funds to continue the biggest prison expansion in more than a century, Rob Allen suggests that the money would be better spent on replacing unsuitable old prisons, rather than building more spaces for people in prisons. He goes on to suggest that conditions in prisons remain poor or even unsafe, with it taking at least seven years to install automatic cell fire detection across the estate alongside the continuous additional challenges of prison life as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Read the blog here
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About Clinks Health and justice bulletin
This regular bulletin provides Clinks members with the latest news for voluntary organisations involved in the health and care of people in the criminal justice system. It currently has 1,165 subscribers.
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