Mindless and moronic - yes. But does this really warrant a ‘lengthy period in jail’?? www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

These are the headlines we need:

A personal bugbear ... Something can't be 'very unique'. It's either unique or it's not.

I have written about the sentencing guidelines shitshow. Infuriating to see yet another Labour government seek to appease a rightwing voter base by reinforcing the “tough on crime” doom loop that has gridlocked our justice system for the past 30 years. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

And so it begins …. This could be seen coming a mile off.

Our response to this morning's @hmiprisonsnews.bsky.social report on HMP Styal which exposes problems that are mirrored in women's prisons across the country. 👇👇

There are 87,556 people in prison today, an increase of 140 on last week, and 1487 higher than eight weeks ago.

A great spot from @thehowardleague.bsky.social The early release scheme relieved pressure but is no substitute for a long-term policy. The sentencing and capacity reviews underway hold the key to getting the prison population down and keeping it down.

Where's the evidence that mental health is being "overdiagnosed"?

"Increasing education and employment in prisons will improve conditions, cut crime – and save money" Good to see this in @cassiarowland.bsky.social's v.good blog on the need to improve access to purposeful activity in prison. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/educ...

Good morning to this man, and this man only #bbcqt

Read a wonderful description of Elon Musk’s political theorising as being ‘dorm-room-bong-hit’ level stuff. Very much in evidence here. Surreal barely covers it. www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAuT...

6 in 7 people in prison going through a mental health crisis are not being transferred to hospital quickly enough. Many thanks to @nicksmithitv.bsky.social for highlighting the need for urgent action on this.

Great to see prisons charities still joining Bluesky! Welcome to @prisonadvice.bsky.social 👋 You can find lots more in this #CriminalJustice starter pack, inc: @thehowardleague.bsky.social @prisonersadvice.bsky.social @prisonersed.bsky.social But lmk if I’ve missed anyone! go.bsky.app/2sQ9xmz

Delighted to say that @prisonadvice.bsky.social is now on Bluesky. We support people in prison to stay in touch with families at more than 60 prisons across England & Wales but get involved in a whole range of issues related to the Justice System. Give us a follow!

For every 100 people released from prison 67 are recalled, according to new stats published today. Only a quarter of people recalled committed another crime. The rest broke licence conditions like missing Probation appointments 👇👇 www.prisonadvice.org.uk/latest/news/...

Just walked past someone on the phone ... 'While I've got you, just one small change' .... I'm hearing 'Get the red pen out, we need a complete rewrite'.

Help us support the 100,000+ children who have a parent in prison this Xmas. Donate today and it'll be match-funded by @biggive.bsky.social doubling the impact of your donation. 👇👇 donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05...

New @ofstednews.bsky.social Annual Report notes that prison education can have a "transformative effect" but also that "prison education remains weak, almost without exception". www.gov.uk/government/p...

Your regular reminder that we cannot build our way out of the prisons crisis .... www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

A bit of a ‘non-apology’ apology …. ‘any upset I MAY have caused’. There’s no ‘may’ about it. Would have been much better to say ‘I’m sorry for the upset I caused’.

Prison is not a good place for mental health. But I learned some powerful lessons while I was jailed. www.inspirethemind.org/post/what-pr...

We regularly come across stories like these. FWIW, my take is that it's an extremely difficult balancing act for staff between security and dignity. Staff don't always get it right, but the rules are there for a reason. www.theguardian.com/society/2024...

New research by @brainkind.bsky.social shows that 80% of women in criminal justice system in Wales may be living with brain injury. The cohort had “faced significant social disadvantages and exclusion, often starting from a young age.” brainkind.org/complex-lives/

UK parliament Justice Committee launches new inquiry into rehabilitation and resettlement Written submissions by by January 10, 2025 committees.parliament.uk/committee/10...

Prison leavers will end up back behind bars if they don’t get the support they need. Huge amount of effort goes into finding accommodation on release but too many people still fall through the cracks. inews.co.uk/news/housing...

Essential starter pack for anyone interested in Criminal Justice ….

Good to see a focus on employing prison leavers in a White Paper to be published tomorrow. No doubt we have a Prisons Minister who has led by example in this area. www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

Last year I gave the Prisons’ Week lecture at Liverpool Cathedral, on Changemakers and women’s justice. I talked about Elizabeth Fry, and hopeful uncertainty and where imagination might take us. I’ve discovered it’s on YouTube so sharing it (& my Betsy Fry obsession) m.youtube.com/watch?v=-Jgb...

Best piece I’ve read about John Prescott in the last few days by Toby Helm @theguardian.com Includes this nugget …. He would always deliberately mispronounce the name Mandelson, sometimes calling him Meddlesome. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Spiralling backlogs, leaking rooves, broken alarms, missing video evidence, judges mopping floors and burnt out barristers - I spoke to those working in a crumbling courts system as part of @thetimes Crime and Justice Commission www.thetimes.com/uk/law/artic...

I appreciate the harms antisocial behaviour can cause communities, however, we’ll be stuck in this endless cycle of prison crisis unless governments’ reliance on pointless ‘crackdowns’ & use of prison as a deterrence ends, and we find alternative solutions to imprisoning people we’re mad at

◾ Why are prisons overcrowded? ◾ Why does it matter? ◾ How did we get into this mess? ◾ Why don’t we just build more prisons? ◾ What should we do instead? These are the questions our overcrowding explainer answers: howardleague.org/why-are-pris... #PrisonsDontWork #Prisons

This is a pretty alarming outlook for prisons. There has been so much to welcome since James Timpson took over as Prisons' Minister but without adequate funding in the medium term his hands will be tied.

Where's Liz Truss when you need her? She could deploy some dogs to bark at the drones. www.theguardian.com/society/2024...

Bit mystified by new Respect orders from the Home Office. There is already law on anti-social behaviour. Pretty sure powers announced for new orders (eg banning from town centres) already available via civil injunctions/criminal behaviour orders. Also concerned that no good data on how to reduce ASB

A cautionary tale about charity mismanagement…. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024...

The Justice and Home Affairs Committee is conducting an inquiry into the governance, leadership and staffing of prisons - with written submissions requested by 10 January 2025 committees.parliament.uk/call-for-evi...

Ugh. If you think Playbook would have described a male DPM as ‘feisty’ like this, I have a bridge to sell you.

I've been followed by so many fab third sector folk lately thanks to being included in a starter pack and thought I'd share the love around. So here's one of all the people out there shouting about social change - my fellow third sector comms people and campaigners go.bsky.app/DBMtM8Y

Can we have a @fullfact.bsky.social check on this? One of those issues where the facts seem to be a little murky ....

A big welcome to @hmiprisonsnews.bsky.social An essential follow for anyone interested in the Criminal Justice System.

The British Criminology Society Probation & Community Justice Network is holding its 1st Annual Conference, 14 Jan 2025, Sheffield Hallam University. The call for papers deadline is 29 Nov 2024 www.britsoccrim.org/probation-an...

There are some bloody brilliant people on this #CriminalJustice #StarterPack Lawyers, commentators and NGOs working in/ discussing topics from the police to the courts to prisons (hi 👋) to probation… Please do share - and let me know if you’d like to be added go.bsky.app/2sQ9xmz

None.

A word on the Allison Pearson free speech row, and what she describes as a ‘Kafkaesque’ threat to it. We asked her on @thenewsagents.bsky.social to discuss. She said: ‘No. And if you get any aspect of the story wrong my lawyers will be watching.’ Gotta love a free speech warrior 🤷🏻‍♂️

Well worth a listen …. @dannyshaw.bsky.social and @shipleywrites.bsky.social discuss how prisons are covered in the media. secretlifeofprisons.libsyn.com/prisons-and-...

Very true and one of the reasons behind prisons being packed to the rafters. 👇

Very powerful piece about the devastating impact on children when a parent is sent to prison. Affects 200,000 children every year. Labour manifesto contained a very welcome pledge to do more to identify and support these children. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...