In this month's edition...
State of the Sector 2023
Building on the past decade of our State of the Sector research, we have published our 2023 research, providing a snapshot of the voluntary sector working in criminal justice in the 2022-23 financial year. It looks at the profile of the sector, its finances, its future, and the changes it wants to see from the government that wins the upcoming general election.
From the research, three key themes emerged:
- The voluntary sector working in criminal justice continue to operate in a challenging environment
- Organisations prefer grant funding over contract arrangements, including for future government commissioning
- Organisations were cautiously confident about their financial sustainability over the next two years but uncertain about what service delivery might look like.
In anticipation of the UK General Election, expected to take place in 20234, we asked organisations and funders what they would like to tell the incoming government. They want a new government to focus on:
- Investment in prevention and rehabilitation
- Leaning on the expertise of voluntary organisations
- Empowering local organisations to deliver in their communities.
Get up to speed on the view of the sector by reading State of the Sector 2023.
Sentencing Council announces mitigating factor for pregnancy, birth, and post-natal care
The Sentencing Council has announced a move to limit the use of prison custody for pregnant and post-natal women. This follows a consultation the Sentencing Council ran about this issue, which received a majority of supportive responses. The change being introduced will mean that when considering a custodial or community sentence for someone who is pregnant or who has given birth in the last 12 months, the Probation Service should be asked to address the issues outlined in a pre-sentence report. These relevant considerations may include the medical needs of the person being sentenced, any effect of the sentence on the person's physical or mental health, any effect of the sentence on the child. Amended versions of guidelines will be published and come into effect on 1 April 2024. Read the full Sentencing Council response here and the reaction from Birth Companions here.
Prison performance data 2022 to 2023
The Ministry of Justice and HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) published the latest prison performance data to supplement the HMPPS Annual Report and Accounts. This performance data sets out the cost per prison place and per person in prison in England and Wales. In 2022-23, the overall resource expenditure (including the net expenditure managed and recorded in each prison and the net expenditure met at a regional and national level recorded in the Annual accounts of HMPPS), was £51,724, representing a real terms increase of 3.7% on 2021-22. Read the data here.
HMYOI Cookham Wood to be repurposed
The Ministry of Justice and HM Prison and Probation Service announced that young people held in HMYOI Cookham Wood will be transferred to other establishments and the site repurposed as an adult men's prison. The government said young people currently in Cookham wood will be moved to other sites across the secure youth estate, being moved on a case-by-case basis taking into account individual needs, the views from other professionals, and the need to maintain family ties. This follows Cookham Wood being issued an Urgent Notification in April 2023 and further improvements which cannot be delivered to the scale required in an acceptable time frame. Read the press release here and the response from HM Chief Inspector of Prisons here.
How social prescribing can help young people waiting for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) support
The National Academy for Social Prescribing are hosting a webinar [16 April, 12.30pm, online, free] exploring how a social prescribing pathway could help young people aged 11 to 18 whilst they are waiting to access CAMHS. This could involve connecting them to non-medical forms of community support, such as skills development, peer support, befriending, and social or cultural activities. Learnings from the first phase of the Wellbeing while waiting ('INSPYRE') trial will also be shared, along with an introduction to a newly published manual which will support CAMHS staff in developing and scaling social prescribing services services in the future, and insights from making social prescribing happen right now. Book to attend here.
Government response to the Joint Committee on the draft Mental Health Bill
The government published its response to the recommendations of the Joint Committee on the draft Mental Health Bill. This follows the pre-legislative scrutiny that was carried out on this Bill, culminating with the Committee's report in January 2023 containing 55 recommendations. This includes recommendations about the 28-day transfer deadline for people in prison who meet the threshold for detention under the Mental Health Act to access in-patient treatment, and a recommendation about the increase in the provision of appropriate health-based places of safety, amongst others. Read the government's full response here.
Nacro Justice ExChange: Mental health in prisons
Nacro published the second report of its Justice ExChange, a network of people who have been in contact with the criminal justice system and received support from Nacro, looking at mental health in prisons. This explores at the level of mental health issues in prisons and how people in prison who have mental health issues are identified, the impact the prison environment can have in people's mental health, and the support currently available in prison and the impact all this can have on people's ability to transform their lives on release. Recommendations include passing the draft Mental Health Bill 2022, improving screening and training to identify mental health needs, better support provision and relationships with staff, and improving transfers to secure mental health facilities. Read the briefing in full.
The impact of Covid-19 on children's mental health and wellbeing in the youth justice system
The Howard Journal of Crime and Justice published an article by Hannah Smithson, Professor of Criminology and Youth Justice, Manchester Metropolitan University. This presents findings from the UK's first in-depth exploration of the impact of the pandemic on children at each stage of the youth justice system. The research demonstrates the pandemic increased the vulnerability of children in contact with the criminal justice system. Professionals and children reported a rise in mental health illnesses, such as anxiety and depression, due to a range of intersecting factors including isolation, lack of socialising, lack of physical activity, lack of routine, and poor sleep patterns. The article argues there is an urgent need for a systematic commitment to addressing the mental health vulnerabilities of this group of children. Read the article here.
Prison population projections: 2023 to 2028
The Ministry of Justice published the latest prison population projections, covering 2023 to 2028. The central projection for the prison population in March 2028 is 105,800 people. This is based on factors including continued growth in police charging and prosecutions, falling outstanding caseloads in the Crown Court, and changes in sentencing policy to keep people convicted of certain offences in prison for longer. The total prison population for March 2025 is now estimated to be 1,800 higher than the 2022 to 2027 projections, based on the central estimate. This is mainly driven by a higher starting remand population expected to begin falling later than previously projected. The forecast also finds the population of adult men and women and people aged over 50 are all expected to increase over the projection period. Read the projections in full here.
The true cost of delivering public services
The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NVCO) published a report looking at the cost of delivering public services to the voluntary sector, drawing on survey responses from 331 voluntary organisations. It highlights the sector’s crucial role in addressing community needs with flexibility and tailored support, filling service-gaps, fostering long-term relations, and advocating for systemic change. However, insufficient and uncertain funding challenges voluntary organisations' ability to deliver services effectively. The report affirms that long-term funding that covers the true costs is essential for stability and impactful partnerships with authorities. With adequate funding, charities can enrich communities and improve systemic structures. Read the research here.
Female Offender Strategy Delivery Dashboard
The Ministry of Justice has published a Delivery Dashboard for the Female Offender Delivery Strategy. This is a web-based visualisation tool that allows users to to view and customise charts based on key metrics within the Female Offender Strategy Delivery Plan. The Dashboard can be used as a way to discover data available on women in the criminal justice system and as a starting point for further investigation. Access the Delivery Dashboard here.
VCSE Health and Wellbeing Alliance Resource Library
National Voices are hosting the resource library of the VCSE Health and Wellbeing Alliance, of which Clinks are a member, which showcases health inequalities focussed projects undertaken by Alliance members. Publications cover topics including mental health and suicide prevention, maternal health, social prescribing, and social care. The projects aim to address issues of importance to the people and communities Alliance members work with or represent, and are designed and delivered in partnership with the Department for Health and Social Care, UK Health Security Agency, and NHS England. Access the library here.
Neurodivergence in Criminal Justice Network Resource Collection
The Neurodivergence in Criminal Justice Network (NICJN) is a group of researchers, practitioners and community members interested in the challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals drawn into the criminal justice system of England and Wales launched in 2021. The NICJN publish a Resource Collection that aims to provide an accessible single location for identifying publications, accounts, toolkits, and other resources related to neurodivergence and criminal justice. Access the Resource Collection here.
Navigating life after prison
Sussex Prisoners' Families have shared two resource booklets about navigating life after prison: one for people leaving prisons themselves, and one for their families. The booklet for people leaving prison themselves is written with the input of people who have been in prison and their family. Read the booklet for people leaving prison here, and the booklet for the families of people on probation here.
Political campaigning as a charity
The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NVCO) has published guidance on political campaigning as a charity, highlighting elections as a key opportunity for organisations to further their charitable goals. The guidance highlights key issues in charity and electoral law, alongside guidance to help organisations feel more confident to achieve maximum impact. Read the guidance here.
Mental Health and Wellbeing Services for LBT+ Women
The National LGBT Partnership, a member of the VCSE Health and Wellbeing Alliance, published a directory of services providing mental health and wellbeing services for LBT+ women. This includes details of counselling services, domestic and sexual violence services, support for women who are bi, support for trans women, social, support and meet-up groups, and other wellbeing services. The directory was funded through the Health and Wellbeing Alliance. Read the directory here.
Organisations run by-and-for those they serve
The Legal Education Foundation and Lloyds Bank Foundation are inviting bids for research into the 'Exploration of the distinctiveness of small voluntary sector organisations run by-and-for those they serve'. They are seeking to better identify and understand the characteristics, value, role, and distinctiveness of the wider diverse landscape of these organisations to improve funders' commissioners', and policymakers' understanding of equity, and user-led organisations; increase sector-wide knowledge of their small, local, and specialist characteristics; and influence and change policies and practices to be more supportive and effective in light of by-and-for organisations' needs.
An estimated budget of [£75,000] will finance the two phases of research, initial exploration and deeper examination. Intentions to bid should be confirmed by [3 April 2024, 8am], and the deadline for applications is [23 April, 8am]. Find out more here.
Neurodiversity in the youth justice system
The Youth Justice Board (YJB) published a piece by YJB Board Member, Sharon Gray, during Neurodiversity Celebration Week. This looked at the over-representation of neurodivergent children in the youth justice system, and argues a greater understanding of neurodiversity is needed to build a more inclusive society that benefits from the strengths that neurodivergent people offer. Read the piece here.
Working together for a stronger workforce
VONNE published a blog by Richard Boggie, North East and North Cumbria VCSE Health Partnerships Strategic Manager. In the blog, he reflects on the workforce challenges faced by the voluntary sector and the importance of effective partnerships with the local health and care system to learn from each other and innovate, influence change, and access resources and funding. Read the blog here.
Women's drug and alcohol treatment needs overlooked
Russell Webster has published a guest blog by Sophia Fedorowicz, Head of Research and Evaluations, Expert Citizens CIC, Sarah Page, Associate Professor of Social Justice and Social Learning, Staffordshire University, Fiona McCormack, Research Officer for Centre for Health and Development, Staffordshire University, and Sophie Oldfield, Alumni Student, Staffordshire University. This highlights the report published by the Centre for Justice Innovation in October 2023, sharing findings and recommendations for improved practices to better support women in recovery, as well as discussing drug and alcohol stigma in relationships, discriminatory practice, and recommendations for change. Read the blog here.
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