A murderer who once worked as an aide to Sarah Ferguson could be freed from her life sentence within weeks after applying for early release – but one prisons expert argues it will be at least another three years before she is in any realistic position to be freed. Jane Andrews, 46, who stabbed her… Continue Reading
Category Archives: Women prisoners
Women’s Prisons To Close
Two women’s open prisons, as well as a mother and baby unit in London, are set to close as part of a shake-up of the way female offenders are treated. HMP Askham Grange in Yorkshire and HMP East Sutton Park (above) in Kent will close “in due course” because the changes will mean there is… Continue Reading
Huhne & Pryce freed from prison
Former Cabinet minister Chris Huhne and his ex-wife were both freed from prison today after serving around a quarter of their eight-month sentences for swapping speeding points. Huhne, a former energy secretary and once-aspiring Liberal Democrat leader, left Leyhill Prison in Gloucestershire by the main entrance in the back seat of a silver Honda, making no attempt to avoid… Continue Reading
Death In Custody Inquest
Why was she in jail? INQUEST INTO THE DEATH OF MELANIE BESWICK AT HMP SEND TO BEGIN THURSDAY 11 APRIL 2013 Thursday 11 April 2013 at 10am Before HM Coroner for Surrey Richard Travers Sitting at HG Wells Conference Centre, Church Street East, Woking, Surrey, GU21 6HJ Melanie Beswick was 34 years old when she… Continue Reading
New women’s community sentence plans
The Government is to shake up community sentences for women offenders in a bid to steer them away from jail. Justice minister Helen Grant revealed plans for a new advisory board on female offenders, which will include looking at overhauling community sentences to offer a credible alternative to custody. The move is part of a… Continue Reading
PM urged to strip Pryce of title
David Cameron was today urged to push for action to strip jailed Vicky Pryce of the Companion of the Order of the Bath. Labour MP Andrew Gwynne has written to the Prime Minister insisting it is “profoundly unacceptable” for the ex-wife of former Cabinet minister Chris Huhne to still hold the title. The honour, given… Continue Reading
Murderer Missing From Pryce Jail
A life-sentence prisoner has sparked a police appeal after failing to return to the same Kent open jail reportedly housing the ex-wife of shamed former Cabinet minister Chris Huhne. Clare Barstow, above, 52, was released on temporary licence from HMP East Sutton Park, near Maidstone, Kent, on March 15 to attend a work appointment. But… Continue Reading
‘Pryce is a Victim Not a Cultprit’ Insists Her Lawyer
Vicky Pryce’s solicitor questioned whether she should have been treated as a victim rather than a defendant as he indicated an appeal was still being considered. Robert Brown also cautioned critics of the “marital coercion” defence unsuccessfully used by Pryce that they could leave victims of domestic abuse defenceless if it was removed. Economist Pryce… Continue Reading
ADDICT TREATMENT “BETTER THAN JAIL”
Crime rates among women suffering from poor mental health or substance misuse would be cut by offering medical support rather than handing out jail sentences, a poll suggests. Around seven in 10 people (69%) believe treatment for drug addiction would be the most effective measure to reduce reoffending among women who commit non-violent crimes. The… Continue Reading
CUTTING WOMENS CLOTHES OFF “UNACCEPTABLE”
Inspectors criticised the “unnecessary and unacceptable” practice of cutting off women’s clothes when they are forcibly strip-searched in jail following a report on a prison in West Yorkshire. Responses to women whose behaviour caused concern are “excessively punitive”, said a report on New Hall Prison in Wakefield which holds 356 women and two babies.… Continue Reading
