Monthly News Bulletin
Email Bulletin November 2007
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?
FAREPAK VICTIMS SPEAK OUT
Our latest report `Farepak victims speak out: an exploration of the harms caused by the collapse of Farepak' was launched at Parliament on Monday, 19 November. The research, carried out by Dr Basia Spalek and Sam King of the University of Birmingham, finds that many of the savers were low paid women prudently saving for Christmas who have been forced into a cycle of debt as a result. The research was commissioned by the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, as part of our `Harm and Society' project, and UNISON Welfare.
THE PROBLEMS OF EVERYDAY LIFE. CRIME AND THE CIVIL AND SOCIAL JUSTICE SURVEY
Written by Dr Vicky Kemp, Professor Pascoe Pleasence and Dr Nigel Balmer of the Legal Services Research Centre, this report offers a detailed picture of the nature, pattern and impact of people's experience of civil justice problems, along with information on crime victimisation. It explores the nature and degree of connections between social exclusion, criminal victimisation and the experience of civil justice problems. This report was published as part of the Centre's `Whose Justice?' project. For more information and to download the report click here.
SOCIAL JUSTICE AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Despite more than a decade in power, New Labour has failed to tackle deep-rooted social injustices, according to a collection of essays from more than 20 researchers and academics, published this month. Historically high levels of inequality, endemic violence against women and the increasing reliance on criminal justice measures to manage social problems are just some of the themes explored in `Social justice and criminal justice'. For more information and a copy of the report, see here.
OTHER STUFF
OUR WORK
- Enver Solomon, deputy director, chaired a question time session at Nacro's annual conference on the theme of `Prisons full to bursting - what's to be done?' He also took part in a Barrow Cadbury Trust roundtable on guns, gangs and growing up at the RSA and spoke at the Youth Justice Board's annual convention on the subject of `Building communities confidence in public protection'.
- Richard Garside, director, wrote a piece for Guardian online on foreign nationals.
- and spoke at an ESRC seminar on criminal justice and regulation. Read his speech here.
- Will McMahon, policy director, spoke at the North East Youth Justice Board annual meeting on 2 November addressing the subject of 'youth violence'. The meeting was also addressed by Graham Robb, interim chair of the Youth Justice Board.
- We have been interviewing for one new post (administrator) and two maternity leave cover posts.
COMING SOON....
CHILDREN'S COMMISSIONER TO SPEAK AT CCJS SEMINAR
Tonight (27 November), Professor Sir Al Aynsley-Green, Children's Commissioner for England, gives the second lecture in the series `New developments in criminal justice' at King's College followed by the Rt Hon Lord Justice Levenson the senior presiding judge for England and Wales on 12 December. Each seminar in the series has been accredited by the Bar Council for 2 hours of CPD credit. For further information about these FREE events download the flyer here.
UNA PADEL AWARD
The first Una Padel Award will be presented at the Annual Event taking place on the 11 December 2007. The award was set up in memory of our former Director Una Padel, who always worked towards supporting and recognising the many organisations and people working in the criminal and social justice sector whose dedication and achievements often go unrecognised. We were delighted that the introduction of the award resulted in a tremendous interest from projects, organisations and practitioners across the country and abroad.
We will be giving out two awards this year, one for outstanding contribution and potential in an organisational capacity and one rewarding outstanding individual contribution. We will also hand out certificates to two runners up in each category. The winners, runners up and short listed candidates will all be listed on our website over the coming weeks.
The event will take place in the Great Hall at King's College London. For more information and to book your place please contact us on 020 7848 1688 or email
CJM MAGAZINE - `POLITICS, ECONOMY AND CRIME'
This will be the last issue of CJM in its current format and we have put together a corker for you!! The magazine is due to be published in December 2007. Edited by Professor Pat Carlen, this issue includes contributions from James Dignan and Michael Cavadino, Nicola Lacy, Loic Wacquant , Jock Young and Reece Walters. From next year, CJM will be published by Routledge. If you are thinking of subscribing, please note that from 2008, all CCJS members will gain full online access to the full back catalogue. For details see here. The first issue published with Routledge will focus on the theme of `Detention' and will be released in March 2008.
SPLIT FOR PURPOSE?
Our annual event will take place on Tuesday 11 December 2007, 6pm - 7.30pm. A panel discussion on the subject of `Split for purpose? The implications of Home Office reform' will be chaired by the BBC's Robin Lustig directing a discussion between Lord Falconer, former Secretary of State for Justice, Baroness Vivien Stern and Martin Bright, Political Editor, New Statesman. Places are filling up fast and we now have over 150 people attending. For further details, please download the flyer here. Our AGM will take place before the event and is open to members only, starting at 5.30pm.
HAVE YOU SEEN?
CRIME, LAW AND SOCIAL CHANGE
The emerging perspective around `social harm' is discussed in the most recent issue of the journal, Crime, Law and Social Change including contributions from Paddy Hillyard and Simon Pemberton among others. See here for more information.
A PATHWAY TO CARE FOR OLDER OFFENDERS: A TOOLKIT FOR GOOD PRACTICE
This document, produced by the Department for Health, gives advice about delivering individually-planned care for older prisoners while in prison, and how to ensure their successful resettlement back into the community with the necessary support to reduce re-offending. To view click here.
EQUANOMICS
Equanomics UK is a growing coalition of organisations across the UK who want to develop more economic analyses and approaches to equality in the UK.
IN THE NEWS....
`THE MONEY SPENT ON PRISONS IS CRIMINAL'
Enver Solomon and Joe Sim had letters published in The Guardian on 21 November 2007 regarding the expansion of the criminal justice system into other areas of social policy and the related costs. See here for more information.
`DVT KILLS 11,000 PATIENTS IN SEVEN MONTHS'
The Mail reported that a post operative form of deep vein thrombosis called Venous Thromboembolism has killed 11,000 people in seven months according to a report from the All-parliamentary Thromobosis Group. The paper claims that many of these deaths are preventable but only 32% of NHS trusts are assessing for risk. (Daily Mail 19.11.07)
INFORMATION WATCHDOG TELLS POLICE TO REMOVE CRIME RECORDS
The Information Commissioner, Richard Thomas, has ordered police to erase ancient crime records from the police national database because it breaches the Data Protection Act. Police are challenging the move which could result in tens of thousands of records being deleted. Thomas found that one police record related to a theft of a packet of meat worth 99p in 1984 when the person was 16. (Times 01.11.07)
`CALL FOR ACTION OVER SLOW CHANGE IN GENDER PAY GAP'
Research from the Office for National Statistics and a separate study by The Institute of Directors has revealed that `the gender wage gap closed by just a third of a percent over the past year and actually widened in board rooms'. (Guardian 08.11.07)
CHILDREN AND DRUGS
The number of children sent for drug treatment increased by a fifth last year according to official figures. Most accessed treatment via the courts and criminal justice agencies. Meanwhile the Mail also investigates the use of Ritalin for `hyperactive' children. (Daily Mail 19.11.07)
QUOTES OF THE MONTH
`This reminds us that not all young people are out mugging and misbehaving'
Major General Julian Thompson commentating on the young people walking by the Cenotaph on remembrance day.
`To present "black crime" as a primarily cultural problem whether forged in the economic "no mans land" between deprivation and restricted opportunity, or secured in a spurious social biology, is a capitulation to the weight of racist logic...The emphasis on black culture legitimates the idea that any black, all black, are somehow contaminated by the alien predisposition to crime which is produced in their distinctive cultures, specifically their family relations.'
Gilroy, P. (1982) `The myth of black criminality' in Eve, M. and Musson, D (eds) Socialist Register Vol 19 pp47-56.