Category: Latest News

Every prisoner is given a security category. For female prisoners, there are only two options, closed or open condition. For male prisoners, there are four categories, A to D. What do the categories mean? Female prisoners:  Closed conditions are for female prisoners who present too high a risk for open conditions; these are for those… Continue reading Prison Categorisation

An evidence-based practice team from HM Prison and Probation Services have produced a report entitled “An evaluation of a brief intervention to reduce re-offending among women serving short sentences.” Over 12 months, a study was made of 255 women who were in the last 6-8 weeks of their sentence where that sentence had been less… Continue reading Women on Short-Term Sentences

In 2006 the Association of Chief Police Officers, known as ACPO, founded a Criminal Records Office, now known as ACRO. The intention was for ACRO to organise the management of criminal record information and improve links between the records and biometric information. ACRO’s principal functions are providing police certificates, international child protection certificates and responses… Continue reading Deletion of Police Records

A recent Court of Appeal case has ruled on the appropriateness of protective orders when a life sentence is in place. In GD’s case, the Court imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) alongside an indeterminate life sentence.  On appeal, the question was whether making the SHPO was wrong in principle. GD had committed several… Continue reading Life Sentences with Further Orders

Draft revised sentencing guidelines have been produced to reflect recent Court of Appeal judgments. The guidelines clarify sentencing guidance for cases where no sexual activity occurs or where the targeted child does not exist. The revised guidelines are subject to consultation, which will close on 13th August 2021. The main revisions apply to offences of:… Continue reading Child Sexual Offences

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) refers to a broad range of conditions which are characterised by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviours, speech and non-verbal communications.  Autism is generally a hidden disability, and it may not be immediately apparent that a person has it, and they may be undiagnosed. A person with autism may become involved… Continue reading Autism And Crime

The Policing and Crime Act 2017 introduced the power for police to release suspects while under investigation rather than placing them on police bail. Before the Act, a suspect would be released on police bail, with or without conditions, with a date and time to report back to the police station if further investigation was… Continue reading Release Under Investigation

In a recent case, a defendant was acquitted of sexual assault, the Attorney General referred the case to Court to look at a point of law. The question asked was: “Is it necessary for the prosecution to prove, as an element of the offence of sexual assault, not only that the offender intentionally touched another… Continue reading Sexual Assault and Intent

The licensing of air weapons is different across the UK: In England and Wales, there is no need to acquire a licence to hold an air weapon. In Scotland, air weapons owners need a specific air weapons licence. In Northern Ireland, air weapons owners need a firearms licence. It is an offence to sell or… Continue reading Air Weapons – The Law & Proposed Reforms

In response to the Coronavirus pandemic, the government introduced changes to the custody time limit regulations that extended the custody time limits in the Crown Court by two months to address ongoing delays in the criminal justice system worsened during the pandemic.  In September, Just for Kids Law, along with The Howard League for Penal… Continue reading Custody Time Limits & Young Defendants