Elderly activist to spend Christmas in prison because tag does not fit | Prisons and probation
A 77-year-old environmental activist will spend Christmas in prison after authorities can't find an electronic device small enough to fit on his wrist, despite being released with an electronic tag. Gaie Delap, a former teacher and Quaker from Bristol, was jailed in August along with four co-defendants for taking part in the destructive Just Stop […]
Jan. 6 rioter who tried to join Russian Army sentenced to prison for defying probation
A military veteran was sentenced Friday to six months in prison for violating his probation, months after being charged in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack, Associated Press reported. Kevin Loftus, 56, was about to leave the country and join the Russian military in the nearly three-year war against Ukraine. Loftus was arrested in Iowa […]
Drones could bring guns into prisons in England and Wales, watchdog fears | Prisons and probation
Guns could be delivered by drone to prisons already roiled by drug-related gang warfare amid an “inadequate” response from prison authorities, a leading watchdog told the Guardian. Britain's chief inspector of prisons, Charlie Taylor, said the rapid increase in the use of large unmanned aerial vehicles was of “biggest concern”, increasing the likelihood that firearms […]
1,100 more prisoners set for early release as minister admits recall rate ‘very high’ | Prisons and probation
Attorney-General Shabana Mahmood said the proportion of people released early from prison who are recalled is “very high” as the government prepares to release more prisoners to ease the overcrowding crisis. He admitted that it was expensive. Mahmoud said the number of prisoners returned after the first wave of releases in September has not yet […]
Prisons need more than an architecture of hope | Prisons and probation
There are other issues to consider before modernizing prisons with new architecture, as Yvonne Jewkes has argued ('A place to heal, not to hurt': why cruel prison design kills hope) September 24th). There are examples of places that radically transformed prisoners without resorting to architecture. For many prison activists, the Barlinnie Task Force, before its […]
Chicago Man Robs Woman on CTA Days After Getting Probation for Prior CTA Robbery
A Chicago man is accused of robbing a woman on a train just 11 days after being released on probation by a judge for robbing two people outside a station on the same line, prosecutors said. Isaiah Turner, 18, and two minors were arrested on March 17 (St. Patrick's Day) after allegedly robbing a man […]
Some crime victims ‘unaware’ of offenders’ early prison release in England and Wales | Prisons and probation
Hundreds of crime victims are unaware that the perpetrator will be released on Tuesday, despite their requests that he not be released, the Victims Protection Committee claimed. As the government prepares to release 1,700 prisoners to ease overcrowding in prisons in England and Wales, Helen Newlove said some victims were “unaware of the prisoner releases” […]
England prison overcrowding emergency measures come into force | Prisons and probation
Ministers have launched emergency measures to ease prison overcrowding as more rioters are sentenced for their roles in the recent unrest. The long-standing measure, known as “Operation Early Dawn,” allows defendants to be held in police custody until prison beds become available, and court dates can be hastily postponed or adjourned. The system went live […]
Three Pro-Life Activists Sentenced to Probation for 2021 Tennessee Abortion Clinic Protest
Three more pro-life activists were convicted Tuesday for their participation in a 2021 abortion clinic protest in Mount Juliet, Tennessee. Eva Zastrow, 24, James Zastrow, 25, and Paul Place, 24, were sentenced to three years’ probation in federal court and will spend the first 90 days of their sentences in home detention, ABC News reported. […]
Cut ‘unsustainable’ probation workload in England and Wales, urges watchdog | Prisons and probation
Ministers should consider cutting the number of probation prisoners by up to 40,000 if they want to ease the prison overcrowding crisis, a watchdog group has told the Guardian. Martin Jones, chief inspector of probation for England and Wales, said the current model was “unsustainable” and suggested ministers should free up capacity by not asking […]