Prisons and Probation Policy : an interlude

With its announcement last week that it intends to conduct a review of sentencing policy, the coalition government appears to be buying itself some time to consider the vexed issue of the prison population, and perhaps how to reconcile some of their contradictory election stances (and historical commitments).

Meanwhile, the political interlude has allowed the airing of some interesting perspectives on prison and sentencing policy over the last decade or so. For the latest, see today's comment by Lord Ramsbotham, former Chief Inspector of Prisons for England and Wales 1995-2001 :

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/may/24/prisons-policy-labour-crisis-probation

Penal reform: 'key policy flashpoint' ?

For more on this issue, and some useful insight of the new Justice Secretary's (hitherto) position on the prison population, see:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/may/19/coalition-government-prison-building-programme

The article also gives a link to a briefing paper on prisons published today:

http://www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk/uploads/documents/prisonbriefingsmall.pdf

Prison Policy 'Incoherence' ?

The Sunday Telegraph is one of the first to comment on the apparent contradictions in Lib Dem / Conservative policies on prisons; interesting to note how quickly the debate is being framed in terms of economic restraint. See:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/7728930/Why-the-coalition-is-set-to-bring-us-a-rise-in-crime.html