News, publications and events
NOMS weekly round up, Issues 3 and 4
11.3.08
This message consolidates all of the announcements that have been made this week, relevant to NOMS. The links will enable you to access further information about each announcement.
Jack Straw: community sentences better at reducing reoffending (new window)
Jack Straw said that community sentences can be a more effective punishment than short prison sentences, during a visit to the Liverpool Community Justice Centre on 28 February 2008.
Local Criminal Justice Board effectiveness (new window)
A national survey of effective performance management and the performance of Local Criminal Justice Boards has been released, summarising the findings from an investigation into the characteristics associated with high-peforming Local Criminal Justice Boards.
End of Custody Licence releases and recalls January 2008 (new window)
Monthly statistics have been released on the numbers released from prison on End of Custody Licence (ECL) and offenders recalled back to prison during the ECL period.
Population in custody: monthly statistics (new window)
Monthly statistics on the population in custody for January 2008 have been released with summary figures on the population in prison establishments, police cells, secure children's homes (SCHs) and Secure Training Centres (STCs).
NOMS Infrastructure Grants announcement (new window)
NOMS has awarded funding of £1.8 million over three years to Clinks, Action for Prisoners Families, and the Development Trusts Association to advise and support frontline organisations working, or wishing to work, to help reduce adult re-offending and protect the public, and to facilitate communication and engagement between NOMS and the third sector.
Alcohol Information Pack for Offenders under Probation Supervision (new window)
An alcohol information pack for offenders under Probation supervision has been developed by the Interventions and Substance Abuse Unit in conjunction with Alcohol Concern and MP Consultancy.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Maria Eagle commented on the Independent Review of the Forum for Preventing Deaths in Custody.
Minister visits substance misuse project as government launches drugs strategy (new window)
Justice Minister David Hanson gave his full support to the government's drugs strategy during a visit to London Probation's Substance Misuse and Prolific Offender Team in Islington on 27th February.
Number of individuals charged with murder or manslaughter and out on bail (new window)
A snapshot count of the number of defendants who were facing a murder or manslaughter charge in the Crown Court and who were out on bail awaiting trial at 31 January 2008 has been published as a. response to a freedom of information request.
Time intervals for criminal proceedings in magistrates' courts: December 2007 (new window)
Quarterly National Statistics released results from a one-week survey of criminal cases completed in magistrates' courts. The publication contains estimates of the average time between key milestone dates in a case, broken down by case type and criminal justice area. It is a key source of data on timeliness in the criminal justice system.
The Winter 2007/08 issue of CJS Now for Criminal Justice Practitioners has been published and is available online.
New site Prison service recruitment site attracts thousands of potential recruits (new window)
More than 26,000 people have applied to be prison officers in just one month, thanks to a new online recruitment system. Over 90% of the applicants have never applied before.
Summary of responses to the Wales Commissioning and Business Plan consultation (new window)
The Wales Commissioning and Business Plan for 2008 - 2009 will focus on the key areas that are most likely to reduce re-offending and provide better protection for citizens in Wales. This consultation is now closed. The summary of responses have been published in English and Welsh.
Statistics for mentally disordered offenders 2006 (new window)
This Bulletin is an annual publication which summarises information about people subject to restrictions admitted to, detained in or discharged from psychiatric hospitals. It includes figures for the period 1996-2006.
This is the Initial Equality Impact Assessment of the second annual published Framework which sets out NOMS priorities and resources for the 2008/09 commissioning round. The framework will allow the offender management system and our partners to plan service delivery for offenders in the coming year.
Merged prison name announced (new window)
Following an extended consultation period, Justice Minister David Hanson MP has announced that the new merged prison in Worcestershire will be called HMP Hewell. HMP Hewell will encompass Blakenhurst, Hewell Grange and Brockhill prisons, and the merger will enable more efficient and effective use of resources whilst meeting the needs of prisoners and maintaining public protection.
Protecting the public: the work of the Parole Board – NAO Report (new window)
The National Audit Office report on the work of the Parole Board was published on 5th March 2008.
Meeting needs? The Offenders’ Learning and Skills Service – NAO Report (new window)
The National Audit Office report on the Offenders’ Learning and Skills Service was published on 7th March 2008.
Executive Summaries and press notices of the above NAO reports are also available on the NAO website.
Consultation: Enhancing procedural rights and judicial co-operation in the EU (new window)
A consultation on proposals to strengthen legal safeguards across the EU for people tried abroad in their absence. The paper seeks to improve judicial co-operation between EU states and secure tougher procedural rights for citizens in such cases. Your views are sought on a draft framework decision on trials in absentia, tabled by the Slovenian Presidency and co-sponsored by the UK. The consultation closes on10th April 2008.
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