18 November 2024 By Laura Janes, Consultant Solicitor, GT Stewart and Scott-Moncrieff and LAPG; Emma Trevett, Solicitor, Lawstop and YLAL Being a lawyer in legal aid and advice work has many pressures. As Joanna Fleck and Rachel Francis say in their book, Vicarious Trauma in the Legal Profession: a practical guide to trauma, burnout and […]
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From a child IPP prisoner to patient to a “normal life”
21 September 2024 It is not often in my line of work that you get to the light at the end of the tunnel, but when you do, it gives you the chance to step back and see how differently and better things could be done. Over 16 years ago, I started work on a […]
Continue readingJustice Secretary announces when changes affecting people serving IPPs will start
5 September 2024 Today the Justice Secretary announced the plan to implement the changes in the Victim and Prisoners Act 2024 affecting people serving Indeterminate Sentences of imprisonment and detention for Public Protection (IPPs and DPPs). You can read the full statement here: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2024-09-05/hcws72 All the changes in the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 affecting […]
Continue readingRecognising and minimising trauma in legal processes
17th August 2024 “I had a parole hearing recently and the first question I was asked was how have I managed to reconcile my relationship with my mum due to the trauma that I suffered as a child.” The client who wrote this is a child lifer: he received an indeterminate sentence for public protection […]
Continue readingI feel like I’m bringing a new born home from hospital all over again
18 July 2024 One of the biggest lessons of becoming a parent is to learn how to keep adapting and adjusting your routine to meet your baby’s needs. Except, when you are in prison, virtually nothing is under your control and you’re constantly having to manage the tension between complying with the regime while adapting […]
Continue readingCourt of appeal reduces sentence by 12 months to ensure mother and baby will not be separated
5 July 2024 The decision in R v B to reduce the sentence of a mother by 12 months to avoid the risk of further separation from her baby, handed down by the Court of Appeal on 4 July 2024, coincided with headlines warning of a “one in one out” policy due to severe overcrowding. […]
Continue readingIPP terminations: latest data
14 May 2024 As the Victims and Prisoners Bill progresses through Parliament in the coming weeks, reforms to the process of terminating IPP sentences for good come closer to fruition. The ability to terminate an IPP licence is its distinguishing feature from other indeterminate sentences. Of course, the conviction does not disappear and will never […]
Continue readingWe need a better legal aid system to correct miscarriages of justice
27 March 2024 Miscarriages of justice have hit the headlines over the past year with the case of Andrew Malkinson and the Post Office Scandal highlighting the importance of a healthy and functioning system of criminal appeals. There can be no doubt of the need for criminal appeals work to be properly funded. In both […]
Continue readingTeaching the law to young people is essential to keep everyone safe
The recent news [1] that children under the age of 18 may be responsible for more than half of all reported child abuse cases is an urgent call to action. The report states: “Senior officers say this abuse includes “exploratory behaviour” under-18s may not realise is illegal, and rape.” Children often do not know what […]
Continue readingSmall steps towards hope – Government proposals to enable IPP licences to end earlier
4 December 2023 Today the House of Commons will hold a debate on the Victims and Prisoners Bill as it reaches report stage. In the course of this debate, a series of amendments (PDF download) on the notorious IPP sentence will be considered, including one tabled by the government (New Clause 26). The proposal is […]
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