In this month's edition...
Clinks social prescribing project
Clinks is currently undertaking a project focussed on developing a voluntary sector-driven strategy for social prescribing in the criminal justice system. Building on our work as part of the Health and Wellbeing Alliance, we invite you to join us in exploring the application and benefits of a social prescribing model in criminal justice settings. We will build on the evidence collected to date, which scoped existing examples of social prescribing-inspired practice in prison, to include people with lived experience of the criminal justice system in the community, who are experiencing health inequalities.
We want to work with you if you are involved in delivering socially prescribed services. Our scope includes both commissioned and non-commissioned services providing support to individuals with lived experience of the criminal justice system either in prison or in the community. The project is dependent on collaboration and connectivity with our Health and Justice network, so please contact our Senior Policy and Communications Officer, Abi Lunn, if you are interested in being involved with this work.
Clinks Directory of Services
As part of our continuous commitment to empower the voluntary sector working in the criminal justice system, we invite you to rediscover a valuable resource: the Directory of Services. This comprehensive directory houses information on over 1,000 organisations and projects and serves as a source of support for those navigating the complexities of the criminal justice system.
Responding to the sector, we have improved the Directory to enable organisations to select from an enhanced list of thematic areas, including social prescribing. By updating your organisation's record, you can showcase your impactful work, connect with Clinks around themes, and join a collaborative network dedicated to positive change. It also helps us find you when we want to share news or opportunities that we think you would benefit from hearing about. Signing up is simple: click here to find out more about how to contribute.
Changes to the automatic release of some people serving standard determinate sentences
Following the Lord Chancellor's announcement about changes to the automatic release point for most people serving standard determinate sentences, much of Clinks' policy work has been focussed on the practical implications of this change. To date, Clinks has co-ordinated several sector meetings with senior officials to discuss the implications of the policy change, and to ensure the necessary resettlement support is put in place. This has included a meeting with organisations providing substance misuse support and officials from HM Prison and Probation Service, the Department for Health and Social Care, and NHS England. Please contact the Clinks Policy team with any questions regarding this policy. More details about the changes can be found in the News section below.
Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3) Community Provision Special Interest Group
The first session of the RR3 Community Provision Special Interest Group took place in July, focussed on drug and alcohol services. It explored the current challenges in delivering these services in light of increased demand, as well as looking at potential solutions. The next session of the Special Interest Group will look at community mental health services and will take place at 10am on Monday 16 September. Contact the Policy team if you are interested in attending this session.
Operation Early Dawn activated in the north of England
Following the action taken by the government in response to the violent disorder earlier in August, the prison capacity challenges have been exacerbated in prisons in the north of England. To manage these pressures, HM Prison and Probation Service reactivated Operation Early Dawn. This means people will only be summoned to a magistrates' court when it is confirmed that a cell in the prison estate is available for them, should they be remanded to custody. People will be held in a police station until they are summoned to court. Read the press release making this announcement here.
Sir Keir Starmer's Ministerial Appointments
Following the General Election, the new Prime Minister has appointed ministers to his new government. In the Ministry of Justice, Shabana Mahmood was appointed as the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, taking on the role she was previously shadowing. In addition, James Timpson has been appointed as a Minister of State (Minister for Prisons), Heidi Alexander has also been appointed as a Minister of State. Alex Davies-Jones, Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede and Sir Nic Dakin MP have been appointed as Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State in the department. Sir Nic Dakin will be taking on the Commons responsibilities for prisons, probation and parole, alongside the sentencing portfolio. In the Department for Health and Social Care, Andrew Gwynne was appointed as the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention, which includes the health inequalities brief. Read the full list of appointments here.
New Government's plan to address prison capacity crisis
A noted above, at the end of July, the Lord Chancellor set out measures to tackle the prison capacity crisis. This means that, for most people serving standard determinate sentences, they will spend 40% of their sentence in prison, as opposed to the current 50%. There will initially be two tranches of releases, with people serving sentences of five years or less impacted by the change being released on 10 September. Then, people serving sentences of over five years impacted by the changes will be released on 22 October. The government have said this change is temporary and will be reviewed after 18 months. There are exclusions to this change in automatic release point, mostly around sentences for sexual offences, offences related to domestic abuse, and violent offences which have received sentences of four years or more.
Read the press release here, and the statutory instrument enacting this change in full here. Read the Lord Chancellor's speech setting out this change here. In response to this announcement, Clinks issued this press release.
King's Speech 2024 and the Government's legislative agenda
On 17 July, the new government set out its legislative agenda for the upcoming Parliamentary session in the King's Speech. During this, the government announced 42 bills and draft bills, of which five are likely to be of particular interest to the voluntary sector working in criminal justice. These are the Crime and Policing Bill; Victims, Courts and Public Protection Bill; Mental Health Bill; Renters' Rights Bill;' and Draft Equality (Race and Disability) Bill. Read the briefing notes in full here, and the Clinks blog summarising the Bills most relevant to the sector here.
Temporary closure of HMP Dartmoor
The Lord Chancellor announced the temporary closure of HMP Dartmoor following elevated radon levels detected in non-accommodation areas on 12 July. HM Prison and Probation Service decided to relocate all people in prison over two weeks to ensure safety while further investigations and mitigation efforts take place. The decision was made because ongoing radon reduction measures made it impossible to maintain an effective prison regime. The government will work closely with staff and trade unions to manage the impact on employees and inmates being transferred to other facilities. Read the statement in full here.
Latest set of criminal justice statistics published
The MoJ published statistics covering people in the criminal justice system, safety in custody and the children and young people’s secure estate (CYPSE), and proven reoffending. There were 87,726 people in prison on 30 June 2024. There were 308 deaths in custody in the year to June 2024, a 2% decrease from last year. The number of self-harm incidents in prison rose 24% in the year to March 2024, with the rate of self-harm incidents per 1,000 people increasing 5% in female establishments and increasing 32% in male establishments. The annualised rate of self-harm per 100 children in the CYPSE increased by 119% in the quarter to March 2024 compared to the same quarter last year, standing at 420.9 incidents per 100 children and young people per year. The proven reoffending rate for the July to September 2022 cohort was 26.5%.
Latest Offender Accommodation Outcome Statistics published
The latest Offender Accommodation Outcomes statistics show that 85.7% of people were housed on release from custody by March 2024, down slightly from 86.3% in 2022-23. For settled accommodation, at three months post-release, 73.5% of people were in settled accommodation, a decrease from 75.6% in 2022-23, the lowest since 2020-21. For settled accommodation at three months post-community disposal, 85.2% of people on community orders were in settled accommodation, a slight increase from 85.1% in 2022-23. Regional variations were significant, with some regions showing improvements while others saw declines. Age and sentence length impacted accommodation rates, with younger people faring better. The Community Accommodation Service Tier 3 placed 12,205 people from July 2021 to March 2024, with a significant majority being male. Find the figures in full here.
HM Prison and Probation Service Annual Digest, April to March 2024
HM Prison and Probation Service published its latest Annual Digest, which includes a range of detailed statistics and measures for prisons and probation. These set out that, in 2023-24, random mandatory drug testing increased on the previous year, with 51,452 tests being carried out. However, the number of tests did not meet expected levels in any month and was below the almost 57,000 tests expected over the year. In addition, the number of drugs finds in the year to March 2024 increased 44% on the previous year, reaching 21,145. Regarding Mother and Baby Units (MBUs), pregnancy, and births, the number of applications for places in MBUs rose in 2023-24, and the number of women and babies received into these units also increased for the third consecutive year. In 2023-24, there were 229 pregnant women in prison, and 53 births to women in custody. Read the publication here.
Feminist Leadership Training Programme: Autumn/Winder 2024
The Women's Resource Centre has opened applications for its Feminist Leadership Training Programme, taking place in Autumn/Winter 2024. This is a fully funded programme that investigates and explores what makes a successful leader and a feminist leader of social change. It aims to provide participants with theoretical and practical skills in feminist leadership that can be applied in people's lives, in their organisations, and in their community. The programme is for women staff members of volunteers at women's voluntary and community organisations in the UK. The programme welcomes all women to apply, but will prioritise Black and minoritised women, and emerging rather than established leaders/those with little or no experience of leadership. Find out more and apply here.
Early Release and Homelessness: What does the London voluntary sector need to know and what can it do?
Clinks and Homeless Link are working together in partnership to deliver this free online event [Thursday 5 September, 12.30 to 14.00, online, free] which will outline the new SDS40 policy that the Government has introduced and the impact that it will have on the homelessness and wider voluntary sector, and people leaving prison over the coming months. There are growing concerns from the homelessness and wider voluntary sector around what this policy means for resettlement planning and the inevitable heightened risk of homelessness, particularly with the first tranche of releases scheduled for 10th September. This event is designed for organisations working in London. Find out more and book a place here.
North of England criminal justice forum
This criminal justice forum [Monday 30 September, 13.30 to 15.00, online, free] has been organised to bring together partners working across the criminal justice system in the North of England, including the North West, Greater Manchester, Yorkshire and the Humber, and the North East. The forum will provide an opportunity for people to hear about current and future developments and discuss policy and practice affecting their day-to-day work. It aims to create a space to step away from the day job and provide an opportunity to share good practice, strengthen partnership working, and discuss any opportunities or challenges your organisation may be currently facing. There is also an opportunity for Clinks' members and partners to showcase their work. Confirmed speakers include Kay Charlton, Senior Partnership Manager for North of England at DWP. Kay will discuss the process for engaging with DWP commissioning and any future opportunities on the horizon. Find out more and register to attend here.
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman 2023 to 2024 Annual Report
The Prison and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) published its Annual Report for 2023-24. In that year, the PPO received a total of 4,575 complaints, an increase of 2% on the previous year. On fatal incidents, the PPO started investigations into 360 deaths, an 11% decrease from last year. This included investigations into 104 self-inflicted deaths, 45 other non-natural deaths, and two apparent homicides. The PPO made a total of 718 recommendations following deaths in custody, of which 281 were related to healthcare, 79 to suicide and self-harm prevention, and 74 to emergency response. Recommendations on health provision highlighted issues including robust record keeping, following NICE guidelines to manage health conditions, and reception and secondary health screenings taking place in line with national guidance. Read the report here.
Latest Prison and Probation Ombudsman Learning Lessons Bulletin
The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) published the second Learning Lessons Bulletin on post-release deaths, highlighting the severe impact of releasing people from prison into homelessness. The PPO’s investigation into 137 post-release deaths between September 2021 and December 2023 revealed that 32% of those released homeless died within two weeks, with over 50% dying within the first four days. Most deaths were drug-related, with 20 occurring on the first day. The PPO urges HM Prison and Probation Services and community providers to enhance release planning, ensuring vulnerable prisoners have suitable accommodation and support to prevent further deaths. The report emphasises the critical need for safe release environments to address the complex needs of prison leavers. Read the bulletin here.
Use of anti-rip clothing in police custody: an update
The Independent Custody Visiting Association (ICVA) published a report providing an update on the use of anti-rip clothing in custody. The ICVA undertook a thematic review of inspections reports, obtained legal advice, and previously surveyed schemes on the removal of clothing for "welfare reasons", resulting in the use of anti-rip clothing. In this latest report, the ICVA is pleased there has been a renewed focus on anti-rip clothing, and with the response to its recommendations from the National Police Chiefs Council. However, it believes police forces could go further, and use alternative means to manage risk. The ICVA commits to continuing to work on this area, to ensure proper regulation and use of anti-rip clothing, and to promote the use of less intrusive alternatives. Read the report here.
Race to the top: A Prisoner Policy Network report on race and ethnicity in prisons
The Prison Reform Trust (PRT) published the latest report from its Prisoner Policy Network (PPN), looking at race and ethnicity in prisons. Based on the consultation question 'how does my race/ethnicity impact my experience of prison?', the data gathered from the PPN covered a range of topics, including staff diversity, a lack of cultural awareness, stereotypes, Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities in prison being 'viewed with suspicion', the experience of Muslims in prison, inequitable experiences, accountability, and division. The report notes concerns about the extent to which issues of racial justice had fallen down the prison service agenda, and that many staff leading on equalities issues felt unsupported. It concludes by making a series of recommendations for change. Read the report here.
The crisis in prisons
The Institute for Government (IfG) published a report setting out possible options for a new government to address the acute prison capacity crisis. After setting out how this crisis point was reached, the IfG suggest some 'most effective options' for a new government, including lowering the automatic point of release for standard determinate sentences from 50% to between 40% and 45%, introducing a 'queuing system' for immediate custodial sentences, with people who are considered low risk beginning their sentence under Home Detention Curfew, and allowing sentences of up to three years to be suspended, up from the current limit of two years. They also analyse options 'to be avoided', including expanding the current early release scheme or further delaying hearings. Read the report in full here.
Fixing public services: Priorities for the new Labour government
The Institute for Government and Nuffield Foundation published a report that looks at the state of key public services, including the NHS, local government, and the criminal justice system. It finds performance declining against since 2010, or before the pandemic. The report notes a decline in police effectiveness, increasing backlogs in the criminal courts, prisons being at capacity, and an overstretched probation service. The incredibly tight spending plans and commitments that Labour made in their manifesto mean that the settlements for unprotected areas of public spending – including for local government and the criminal justice system – will decline by an average of 2.4% per year in real terms. The report suggests that by focusing on outcomes, prevention, capital investment, front-line innovation, and staff contributions, the government could enhance services. Read the report here.
Beyond the Cycle: A plan for Government to Break the Cycle of Crisis and Crime
Revolving Doors published a strategic roadmap, co-produced with its lived experience members, that is designed to address the critical flaws in the criminal justice system as they relate to people in the "revolving door". The roadmap recommends replacing short-term custodial sentences with effective community-based alternatives; strengthening diversion schemes at every stage of the criminal justice system; tackling underlying issues such as housing instability, mental health, and substance use that can contribute to people committing offences; and achieving change for a system under pressure, by harnessing the power and potential of lived experience involvement and addressing staffing challenges. Read the plan in full here.
Grasping the nettle: Options for a lasting solution to the prison capacity crisis
The Howard League for Penal Reform published a new briefing offering policy options to address the prison capacity crisis in England and Wales. With prisons holding over 87,000 people, far exceeding the safe capacity of 80,000, and projections indicating further increases, the briefing urges action. Recommendations include automatic release after serving 40% of sentences, expanded use of suspended sentences, and a presumption against short prison sentences. The briefing also advocates for changes in recall and remand practices, a comprehensive sentencing review, revisiting the Corston report on women, improved release planning, probation service reform, and greater use of diversion schemes and community sentences. Read the paper here.
Estimates of children with a parent in prison
The Ministry of Justice published its estimate of the number of children with a parent in prison. The estimated number of children was 192,912. The publication also estimated that the number of people in prison who had children, between 1 October 2021 and 1 October 2022, was 108,990, when adjusted for undercounting. Find the full publication here.
Time for Change: A call for collaborative criminal justice reform
The Criminal Justice Alliance (CJA) published its report highlighting the need for systemic change in the criminal justice system, arguing for strengthened partnerships between the government and civil society. On prison and probation conditions, the report calls for the implementation of a regime that prioritises education, engagement, and physical activity in prison settings. In addition, it recommends that a greater focus is placed on rehabilitation over punishment and that supportive relationships are fostered between staff and people in contact with the criminal justice system, to improve trust and engagement. Other areas of focus of the report include addressing institutional racism, services for women and girls, and engagement of people with lived experience. Read the report here.
Making proper use of 'proper prisons'?
The Howard League for Penal Reform published, with the University of Birmingham and the University of Bath, a report that explores the need for a clear strategy on the role, purpose, and future of Victorian prisons still in use in the prison estate. These prisons, housing over 20% of people in prison, are known for poor conditions, overcrowding, and outdated facilities. Despite their flaws, Victorian prisons offer urban locations beneficial for family connections and secure management. The report recommends keeping them operational due to current capacity issues but suggests repurposing them, particularly within the Category D Open estate. It also calls for reinvestment to improve living standards and revising prison assessment criteria to reflect the unique challenges of Victorian infrastructure. Read the briefing here.
Integration in youth justice services in England and Wales
The Youth Justice Board published research examining the trend towards structural integration in Youth Justice Services (YJSs) with Children's Social Care, Early Help, and other services for children in England and Wales. This shift is driven by factors such as national policy, Child First practices, local priorities, and financial pressures. The study identifies four key integration models: directorate level (29%), portfolio level (26%), umbrella service (19%), and delivery level (17%). While integration improves communication, resource flexibility, and cohesive Child First support, it also poses challenges like the potential loss of specialist youth justice identity and issues with geographical boundaries, funding, and staff turnover. The research highlights that YJSs must consider local circumstances to determine the best structural model, as there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Read the research report here.
Prison Reform Trust Strategic Plan: 2024-2029
The Prison Reform Trust (PRT) published its strategic plan for 2024-2029. The plan is structured around two key lanes: the foundation lane, focussing on strengthening core activities like PRT's advice and information service, engagement with people in prison, and policy advocacy; and the innovation lane, aimed at developing new projects to impact policy and practice on the operational frontline. To ensure positive change for people within the criminal justice system, PRT's priorities are centred on reducing unnecessary imprisonment, improving prison conditions, promoting equality and human rights, and challenging prejudice against people in prison. Read the plan here.
Charity Commission annual research into public trust in charities
The Charity Commission has published its annual research into public trust in charities. It found that, overall, trust in charities has been stable since 2020, with new analysis showing levels of trust are quite high. The Commission found that media coverage is particularly influential in leading to distrust in charities, but generally, the public are cautious not to let the actions of one charity influence how they feel about others. However, it was found that for any charities where the media uncovers wrongdoing, there is little they can do to redeem their reputation. The research found that a majority of the public want information about charities to be available, but not all would access this information, saying that knowing it is there is enough. Read the research findings in full here.
Charity Commission refreshes meeting guidance for the Zoom era
The Charity Commission has urged charities that hold online meetings to review their governing documents and update them where needed. The new guidance issued by the Commission says that trustees should make sure any rules around holding meetings are up to date and practical, including looking at details including how votes will be held at virtual meetings and whether all meetings will be virtual or hybrid. The Commission also recommends that charities wanting to hold virtual meetings have a policy that says how people can ask questions and join the debate, and what would happen to the meeting if there were technical problems. The guidance covers all types of charities, as well as different types of meetings, such as trustee meetings and Annual General Meetings. Read the press release summarising the changes here, and the latest CC48 guidance on Charity Meetings here.
Annual health checks for people with a learning disability, co-produced resources
The Race Equality Foundation and Learning Disability England have been working with people with lived experience from racially minoritised communities, to help raise awareness, and improve the uptake, of annual health checks. This follows research that found significant discrepancies in life expectancies for people with a learning disability from racially minoritised and non-racially minoritised backgrounds. Annual health checks are an NHS preventative intervention designed to help detect and address health conditions, with the aim of reducing the number of early and avoidable deaths for people with a learning disability. This has included publishing a video from their co-production group, talking about their experience of annual health checks. Read more on the Race Equality Foundation here. Watch the video here, and find the easy read leaflet here.
How charities can tackle misinformation
NCVO published a blog providing advice to charities on how they can tackle the spread of misinformation and steps to take to mitigate its effects. Noting that charities rely on public trust and accurate information to carry out their work successfully, it argues that ensuring the accuracy of the information charities share, and countering misinformation, is crucial. NCVO go into provide five tips to help support charities in this area. These include verifying information, training staff around misinformation, dealing with misinformation quickly, reporting misleading or fake content, and reporting serious incidents to the Charity Commission. Read the article here.
National Lottery Awards for All England
The National Lottery Awards for All programme offers funding from £300 to £20,000 to support your project for up to two years. Grants are available for charities, voluntary groups, schools and local authorities in England to carry out projects that will improve their local community. The funding is intended for projects that do at least one of these things:
- bring people together to build strong relationships in and across communities
- improve the places and spaces that matter to communities
- help more people to reach their potential, by supporting them at the earliest possible stage
- support people, communities and organisations facing more demands and challenges because of the cost-of-living crisis.
The D'Oyly Carte Charitable Trust: Advancement of the arts, medical welfare and the environment
The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust funds Charities operating in the UK in the fields of the advancement of the arts, health and medical welfare and environmental protection or improvement. Applications can be made for core costs or projects. If you're interested in applying for a grant, go online to consider whether your work aligns with the Trust’s priorities for the next three years before submitting an application.
SDS40 - the policy and next steps
Following the Lord Chancellor's announcement to tackle the prison capacity crisis, Clinks Head of Influence and Communications, Sam Julius, wrote a short blog that summarises the measures and discusses the work Clinks is doing around these changes. Read the blog here.
Collaborating to change the shape of justice for women
Clinks CEO, Anne Fox, and the Chair of the Weavers' Company Charity, William Makower, published a blog that looks at the Weavers' Company Charity plans to invest in continued innovation to solve problems around the issue of women being sentenced to prison. This includes a January 2025 summit to explore "where next" for justice for women, for which booking will open in the Autumn, through the Clinks website. Read the blog here.
Therapy digs work wonders in prison
Inside Time published an article looking at a scheme in which dogs are brought into a prison to play with people in prison, as part of a weekly one-hour session over six weeks. All 20 men interviewed before and after taking part in the programme at Perth prison in Scotland, said they felt better and learnt new skills. Read the article here.
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. To submit content please complete this form.
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