Monthly News Bulletin
Email Bulletin April 2008
Welcome to the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies' monthly email bulletin, bringing you a roundup of news, research, political developments, events and updates on our work.
WHAT HAVE WE BEEN UP TO?
Probation service faces budget and staffing crisis
On 24 April we published an analysis of recent trends in probation spending and workloads. The report was commissioned by Napo and written by Dr Mark Oldfield, an independent research consultant and Dr Roger Grimshaw, research director at the Centre. Click here to read the summary and full report. The report also received coverage in the Telegraph.
Families under stress...children at risk
Roger Grimshaw presented a workshop session on 'How to reduce Poverty and Disadvantage in Prisoners' Families' at the `Families under stress... children at risk' conference organised by Partners of Prisoners and Families Support Group (POPS) and Barnardo's on 17 April 2008.
The judge and the defendant
The Honourable Mrs Justice Dobbs DBE continued our successful New Developments in Criminal Justice lecture series on 24 April talking about `The judge and the defendant: demographics and diversity in the criminal justice system'. You can read her speech here.
Young People and Prevention
This CCJS seminar included a presentation from the Youth Justice Board and from the DCSF on plans for a new youth crime action plan, a review of Sure Start and research into gangs... Presentations from the day will be developed into a forthcoming book to be published in the autumn by Policy Press.
Structured sentencing framework
Helen Mills heard Lord Justice Gage, Chairman of the Sentencing Commission Working Group, speak about the Working Group's visit to two US states who are using structured sentencing frameworks, one of which is able to predict their prison population with 0.2% accuracy. A consultation paper is seeking responses between now and the end of May.
We have also launched two new monographs: `The Social Costs of Dangerousness: prison and the dangerous classes' by Jamie Bennett, and the `Critical thinking about uses of research', by Professors Tim Hope and Reece Walters.
Other stuff
Richard Garside attended the first meeting of the new advisory group set up by the Young Foundation to guide its work on youth justice. Will McMahon attended the 'Racism and the state of Britain' debate, speakers included Benjamin Zephaniah and Moazzam Begg. Helen Mills took part in the Clinks networking event for organisations working with black and ethnic minority offenders.
Articles and speeches
Richard Garside was the keynote speaker at a conference organised by the Justice Forum, the umbrella organisation for the trade unions working in the criminal justice. A copy of Richard's speech and Powerpoint presentation is available here.
Enver Solomon, deputy director, gave the opening address at the annual NACRO Youth Justice conference at the University of Warwick. The speech was reported in community care.
Enver has also examined the Conservative's proposals for prison reform in an article for the Inside Time Newspaper.
Also, coming soon...
The last speaker in the current New Developments in Criminal Justice seminar lecture series will be Barbara Wilding, Chief Constable of South Wales Police. Her lecture is entitled 'We will never have an effective Criminal Justice System until we focus on stopping problem and criminal behaviour'. The seminar takes place on Tuesday 20 May, 5pm at the BT Centre, London. For more information or to register please email with your name, job title, organisation and telephone number.
CCJS has been commissioned to carry out research into crimes involving knives and firearms in five cities in the UK as part of a Street Crime Commission set up by C4. The commission, led by Cherie Booth QC, is making a series of television programmes and publishing an in-depth report based on its inquires in June.
Next month sees the launch of both the Centre's report into women and community sentences at an invite only roundtable, and of research looking at sentencers' views of the Community and Suspended Sentence orders. The reports are part of our on-going Community Sentences project.
We will also be publishing: an independent review of evidence and policy on gun crime this summer which will complement the work we have done on knife crime; a discussion document on ethnicity and social harm; a briefing on health and safety practice and an audit of youth justice.
The Criminalisation of Education policy, an invite only event in May to discuss the extent, depth and meaning of the criminalisation of the UK's education policy.
TAKE A LOOK AT THIS...
Intemperance, opium and gambling?
Just published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation What are today's social evils? describes a `deep sense of unease about some of the changes shaping British society'.
Delivering Every Child Matters in Secure Settings
The National Children's Bureau (NCB) has released a good practice guide to improve the health and wellbeing of young prisoners. The guidance is part of NCB's five-year Healthier Inside project.
The routes of all evil?
Children in poor areas 'at greater risk of road injury' according to a study, based on NHS data of hospital admissions, which shows that children from deprived areas are four times more likely to be seriously injured. The Times
...and `Pneumonia caused by exhaust fumes is killing thousands of people a year,' according to a report by the University of Birmingham, who also say the gases are as lethal as the London smog of 1952. Daily Telegraph (15/04/2008)
Report on violence against women
New Philanthropy Capital's Hard knock life report, shows that there are proven ways to keep women safe and help women recover from abuse. It demonstrates to donors that, by funding these interventions, they can have an impact on interlinked issues, including child abuse, mental health, homelessness and substance abuse.
`Reducing Drug Use, Reducing Reoffending'
The UK Drug Policy Commission's report asks `Are programmes for problem drug-using offenders in the UK supported by the evidence?'.
IN THE NEWS
In a land without morals, it's no wonder children kill each other
Enver Solomon, the centre's deputy director, said: `The average age of male homicide victims in the Metropolitan Police area is definitely declining'. Telegraph (11/04/2008)
Enver also took part in discussions about gun crime and mandatory minimum sentences for firearm possession on BBC Wales and Radio 5 Live.
Research rage
Media reports on `Critical thinking about the uses of research' authored by Tim Hope and Reece Walters, published by the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies include: BBC and Community care.
Chicken owner gets an asbo
His cockerels crow 400 times an hour. An eviction notice has been ordered for 80 birds. The Guardian (16/04/2008)
`Tranquillisers putting children's lives at risk', and 23,000 killed each year by drugs
Based on a report by Ian Wong, a professor of paediatric medicines research, the Guardian reports on a `surge' in the use of tranquilising drugs to control children's behaviour in the UK. The Guardian (07/04/2008) Further, Research by Professor Clive Ballard of King's College London has been used by Paul Burstow MP to claim that 23,000 elderly people are killed each year by anti-psychotic drugs that are being given to them by care home staff to keep them quiet. Daily Mail (01/04/2008)
`Injuries to health workers cost £235m but companies fear publicity'
Figures from the Health and Safety Executive show over 24,000 serious injuries were received by health workers over a three year period. Daily Telegraph (07/04/2008) A survey by a law firm shows companies prosecuted under new corporate manslaughter rules fear a publicity order, which would force them to detail their crime to investors, suppliers or the general public, almost as much as being fined up to 10% of their annual sales. Financial Times (07/04/2008)
Harman's vest
Harriet Harman has come under fire for wearing a stab proof vest while walking with policemen around her constituency in Peckham, London. Critics claim this proves how dangerous London is. Harman said `it's almost like if you go to a meat factory, they give you a white hairnet and nobody thinks you are going to make a meat pie'. The Guardian and Daily Telegraph (02/04/2008)
`Hoodies were also the scourge of Medieval London'
Professor Robert Bartlett, an expert on the Middle Ages has said that hooded tops were the garment of choice for 12th century apprentice boys of London who were `away from home for seven years with no parental control and they would riot regularly for political and religious reasons'. Daily Telegraph (08/04/2008)
Caution for Cameron 'sneeze' boy
A boy is cautioned for pretending to sneeze then wiping his hand down Tory leader David Cameron's back in Sussex. BBC news (16/04/2008)
QUOTEs OF THE MONTH
'Jack doesn't go round threatening to punch cabinet ministers'
A spokesman for Justice Secretary Jack Straw denies that he threatened to hit Ed Balls during a heated row about which of them was responsible for youth crime. The Observer 13/04/2008
`Arrestlesness: Feeling a frisson of ghoulish excitement because it looks as if you are about to witness a police drama kick off in the street, only to have the thrill deflated as you realise that it's a bunch of Police Community Support Officers in pursuit of a piece of litter'
Wysewords, The Guardian 29/03/08