Justice news

The Guardian view on prisons and mothers: an injustice | Editorial

24-11-2019 19:27 via theguardian.com

The shameful treatment of pregnant inmates and of the children of jailed women must be addressed. No babies should be born behind barsShock and outrage was the widespread reaction to the death of a newborn baby girl at Bronzefield prison in Surrey in September, after her mother (neither have been named) gave birth alone in her cell at night. How could a such a thing have happened in the UK in 2019? Eleven inquiries were launched. A justice minister, Lord Keen, declared the incident “distre

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A fitting change to the Friday night schedule | Brief letters

24-11-2019 18:23 via theguardian.com

Child poverty | Jail terms | Question Time leaders’ special | Mildura cityThe home secretary wants us to believe the substantial increase in child poverty is somehow not the result of policies pursued by the government since 2010 (Report, 22 November). And if the Tories were to be re-elected and child poverty jumps to over 5 million by 2022, as predicted by the Institute for Fiscal Studies two years ago, then presumably, again, we should not attach any blame to her party.
David Winnick
Lab

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Legal aid cuts prompt rise in unrepresented defendants

24-11-2019 16:51 via theguardian.com

Up to 7.7% of those appearing at first crown court hearing last year had no lawyer, says QCThe number of unrepresented defendants in crown courts is rising sharply, the head of the Criminal Bar Association has warned, as cuts to legal aid increasingly impact the criminal justice system.Addressing the annual Bar Council conference in London, Caroline Goodwin QC said figures show that as many as 7.7% of those appearing at a first hearing last year had not been represented by a lawyer. In 2010 the

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Jump in unrepresented defendants as legal aid cuts continue to bite

24-11-2019 16:51 via theguardian.com

Up to 7.7% of those appearing at first crown court hearing last year had no lawyer, says QCThe number of unrepresented defendants in crown courts is rising sharply, the head of the Criminal Bar Association has warned, as cuts to legal aid increasingly affect the criminal justice system.Addressing the annual Bar Council conference in London, Caroline Goodwin QC said figures showed as many as 7.7% of those at a first hearing last year had not been represented by a lawyer. In 2010 the percentage wa

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More women say Birmingham University refused to investigate rape complaints

24-11-2019 14:48 via theguardian.com

Growing outcry as students say university refused to look into complaints of sexual violenceBirmingham University faces a growing outcry over its response to student victims of sexual violence after more women said it had refused to investigate their rape complaints.One recent graduate, who was allegedly raped in university-owned accommodation, said the institution refused to investigate, even though it has previously stated that disciplinary actionwould be taken over misconduct on its premises.

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