Detailed, powerful report from Pact on the emotional & financial costs of imprisonment on families. More than half of those surveyed can't afford food, heating, shoes & clothes. I was shocked by some of the data in this; a must read to inform thinking on imprisonment.

Our latest research indicates that all pregnant women with a history of incarceration need comprehensive antenatal care and social support, whether birthing in prison or the community, due to an increased risk of #NAS and other adverse outcomes UWA School of Population & Global Health onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/aj…

Thoughts on today's announcements and what should happen next.

Glad to begin the BBC Radio Wales phone in discussion on prisons with a conversation about the purpose of imprisonment , the high recidivism linked to short prison sentences and how alternative punishments can also be seen as giving justice to victims.

Interesting local court data analysis from Prison Reform Trust on the use of custodial sentences for women. Huge variation geographically. Despite Female Offender Strategy affirming commitment to reduce women's imprisonment 6/10 women in prison serving < 6 months.

prisonreformtrust.org.uk/six-in-10-wome…

'The proportion of immediate custodial sentences increased from 25% to 34% between 2002 & 2022 while the less severe disposals declined... Community orders declined from approximately one third to one fifth of all disposals. Fines also declined ( 23% to 16%). ' Sentencing Academy

The prison population in England and Wales now stands at 88,225, the highest ever recorded.

Sixty-four per cent of all prisons are holding more people than they are designed for.

Read our thread thread on overcrowding to understand what this means for prisons and the people in…

What a waste of 4 years.

On 18 July 2019, David Gauke - then Justice Secretary - announced limits on the use of short prison sentences to cut reoffending & reduce costs.

But 5 days later Gauke resigned. Boris Johnson became PM & the plans were scrapped.

Now, they’re back…

Senior Presiding Judge, Edis LJ, has asked judges to adjourn, from next week, the sentencing of offenders who are on bail where custody is likely to be imposed. The prison estate is full.

🚨📽️There's still time (just) to get your tickets to our 50th Anniversary of the Barlinnie Special Unit Film Screening Event, tomorrow: Wednesday 11 October. We'll be talking about what prisons can & can't do & creativity behind bars 🖌️🎨📚
Book here ➡️ tinyurl.com/yyyk53z4

On #MentalHealthAwarenessDay I had a session with the psychologist I first started seeing for work related trauma and still see for all the rest of life. We all need a bit of help sometimes.

Great to meet with Vivien Social Work Scotland children & families policy lead. Fascinating looking at different legal systems within the UK and exploring how they understand children -their rights, identities, and the impact on them of their parents’ criminal justice proceedings

Loved talking about Betsy Fry, imagination & faith & how we do justice for women & girls Liverpool Cathedral
Rich Q&A starting with ‘why should I care?’
A reminder that we need to address public assumptions that prison ‘works’ & that it’s ‘us’ and ‘them’: truth is it’s just us …

Excellent lecture by Shona Minson on the historical background of AdelaideHouse the influence of Elizabeth Fry, her work in Newgate Prison in the 18C & the important contribution she made & how we can today learn from those lessons, thinking more imaginatively and with empathy

'By imprisoning record numbers of parents we are storing up a whole raft of problems, the impact of which will be felt for decades to come.'

Pact CEO Andy Keen-Downs quoted in The Guardian today as estimated number of children with parents in prison right now reaches record levels…

Brilliant #PrisonsWeek lecture from Shona Minson at Liverpool Cathedral tonight.

Our prisons are full to burst & yet for vast majority of prisoners it doesn’t stop reoffending & actually makes them more vulnerable with huge impacts on their children.

We must find a better way.

Such a pleasure to give this lecture for
@LivCathedral@adelaide_house
Thanks Emily Spurrell for coming and for your contribution