@robroballen.bsky.social
New article from me on whether Gauke’s Sentencing Review did enough to solve the prison capacity crisis. Some important reflections in the other contributions to the special edition of the British Journal of Community Justice
mmuperu.co.uk/bjcj/volume-...
mmuperu.co.uk/bjcj/volume-...
Volume 20 (Issue 2) - BJCJ
Welcome “Muddling through” – the 2025 Independent Sentencing Review “Muddling through” Charles Lindblom’s (1959) description of policy makers’ approach to […]
mmuperu.co.uk
January 30, 2026 at 5:02 PM
New article from me on whether Gauke’s Sentencing Review did enough to solve the prison capacity crisis. Some important reflections in the other contributions to the special edition of the British Journal of Community Justice
mmuperu.co.uk/bjcj/volume-...
mmuperu.co.uk/bjcj/volume-...
Reposted
🚨NEW EPISODE🚨
Start the year strong with a big-picture view of criminal justice policy. @penelopegibbs.bsky.social & @robroballen.bsky.social reflect on the reforms and debates that shaped 2025 & look ahead to 2026.
🎧Listen now for the latest developments in prisons, courts & more: pod.fo/e/374dde
Start the year strong with a big-picture view of criminal justice policy. @penelopegibbs.bsky.social & @robroballen.bsky.social reflect on the reforms and debates that shaped 2025 & look ahead to 2026.
🎧Listen now for the latest developments in prisons, courts & more: pod.fo/e/374dde
January 9, 2026 at 10:25 AM
🚨NEW EPISODE🚨
Start the year strong with a big-picture view of criminal justice policy. @penelopegibbs.bsky.social & @robroballen.bsky.social reflect on the reforms and debates that shaped 2025 & look ahead to 2026.
🎧Listen now for the latest developments in prisons, courts & more: pod.fo/e/374dde
Start the year strong with a big-picture view of criminal justice policy. @penelopegibbs.bsky.social & @robroballen.bsky.social reflect on the reforms and debates that shaped 2025 & look ahead to 2026.
🎧Listen now for the latest developments in prisons, courts & more: pod.fo/e/374dde
Reposted
Prison Problems Old and New
@robroballen.bsky.social with examples of persistent problems in our prison system, whether they were built in the 1800s or 2020
reformingprisons.blogspot.com/2026/01/pris...
@robroballen.bsky.social with examples of persistent problems in our prison system, whether they were built in the 1800s or 2020
reformingprisons.blogspot.com/2026/01/pris...
Prison Problems Old and New
HMP Dartmoor was first built because overcrowding, poor sanitation and lack of fresh air on the floating hulks off Plymouth were causing s...
reformingprisons.blogspot.com
January 9, 2026 at 6:42 AM
Prison Problems Old and New
@robroballen.bsky.social with examples of persistent problems in our prison system, whether they were built in the 1800s or 2020
reformingprisons.blogspot.com/2026/01/pris...
@robroballen.bsky.social with examples of persistent problems in our prison system, whether they were built in the 1800s or 2020
reformingprisons.blogspot.com/2026/01/pris...
Reposted
⚠️Can rehabilitation be delivered in prisons - and where are we going wrong?
Andi Brierley joins us to discuss how we can ensure people leaving prison have the opportunity to move away from offending.
🎧Catch up on the latest episode of the Transform Justice Podcast now! pod.fo/e/3648a8
Andi Brierley joins us to discuss how we can ensure people leaving prison have the opportunity to move away from offending.
🎧Catch up on the latest episode of the Transform Justice Podcast now! pod.fo/e/3648a8
January 7, 2026 at 12:23 PM
⚠️Can rehabilitation be delivered in prisons - and where are we going wrong?
Andi Brierley joins us to discuss how we can ensure people leaving prison have the opportunity to move away from offending.
🎧Catch up on the latest episode of the Transform Justice Podcast now! pod.fo/e/3648a8
Andi Brierley joins us to discuss how we can ensure people leaving prison have the opportunity to move away from offending.
🎧Catch up on the latest episode of the Transform Justice Podcast now! pod.fo/e/3648a8
Dartmoor debacle and problems at the newest jail. Challenges for the prison service mount up. reformingprisons.blogspot.com/2026/01/pris...
Prison Problems Old and New
HMP Dartmoor was first built because overcrowding, poor sanitation and lack of fresh air on the floating hulks off Plymouth were causing s...
reformingprisons.blogspot.com
January 8, 2026 at 7:22 AM
Dartmoor debacle and problems at the newest jail. Challenges for the prison service mount up. reformingprisons.blogspot.com/2026/01/pris...
67 today. Gather it’s banned so staying 66 for a while.
December 30, 2025 at 10:30 AM
67 today. Gather it’s banned so staying 66 for a while.
‘Exceptionally high’ number of cell fires in dangerously unsafe prison, inspector finds. reformingprisons.blogspot.com/2025/12/fire...
Fire Alert
Surprising perhaps given the pressure on prisons that today’s alert to the Lord Chancellor about the appalling outcomes at HMP Swaleside ...
reformingprisons.blogspot.com
December 17, 2025 at 5:33 AM
‘Exceptionally high’ number of cell fires in dangerously unsafe prison, inspector finds. reformingprisons.blogspot.com/2025/12/fire...
Reposted
The Jury’s out on prison numbers. Thoughts on whether the proposed court reforms will lead to fewer people behind bars or more.
reformingprisons.blogspot.com/2025/12/cour...
reformingprisons.blogspot.com/2025/12/cour...
Courting Trouble
The prison population projections out today are produced to aid policy development, capacity planning and resource allocation within the ...
reformingprisons.blogspot.com
December 5, 2025 at 12:52 PM
The Jury’s out on prison numbers. Thoughts on whether the proposed court reforms will lead to fewer people behind bars or more.
reformingprisons.blogspot.com/2025/12/cour...
reformingprisons.blogspot.com/2025/12/cour...
Reposted
Local monitoring board at Brinsford Prison worried by 56 in-cell fires over the reporting year, "which seems very high and potentially dangerous for the whole prison".
One of many concerns in a troubling report.
cloud-platform-e218f50a4812967ba1215eaecede923f.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/site...
One of many concerns in a troubling report.
cloud-platform-e218f50a4812967ba1215eaecede923f.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/site...
cloud-platform-e218f50a4812967ba1215eaecede923f.s3.amazonaws.com
December 5, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Local monitoring board at Brinsford Prison worried by 56 in-cell fires over the reporting year, "which seems very high and potentially dangerous for the whole prison".
One of many concerns in a troubling report.
cloud-platform-e218f50a4812967ba1215eaecede923f.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/site...
One of many concerns in a troubling report.
cloud-platform-e218f50a4812967ba1215eaecede923f.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/site...
Local monitoring board at Brinsford Prison worried by 56 in-cell fires over the reporting year, "which seems very high and potentially dangerous for the whole prison".
One of many concerns in a troubling report.
cloud-platform-e218f50a4812967ba1215eaecede923f.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/site...
One of many concerns in a troubling report.
cloud-platform-e218f50a4812967ba1215eaecede923f.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/site...
cloud-platform-e218f50a4812967ba1215eaecede923f.s3.amazonaws.com
December 5, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Local monitoring board at Brinsford Prison worried by 56 in-cell fires over the reporting year, "which seems very high and potentially dangerous for the whole prison".
One of many concerns in a troubling report.
cloud-platform-e218f50a4812967ba1215eaecede923f.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/site...
One of many concerns in a troubling report.
cloud-platform-e218f50a4812967ba1215eaecede923f.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/site...
The Jury’s out on prison numbers. Thoughts on whether the proposed court reforms will lead to fewer people behind bars or more.
reformingprisons.blogspot.com/2025/12/cour...
reformingprisons.blogspot.com/2025/12/cour...
Courting Trouble
The prison population projections out today are produced to aid policy development, capacity planning and resource allocation within the ...
reformingprisons.blogspot.com
December 5, 2025 at 12:52 PM
The Jury’s out on prison numbers. Thoughts on whether the proposed court reforms will lead to fewer people behind bars or more.
reformingprisons.blogspot.com/2025/12/cour...
reformingprisons.blogspot.com/2025/12/cour...
Reposted
How will court reform impact on prison numbers?
reformingprisons.blogspot.com/2025/12/cour...
reformingprisons.blogspot.com/2025/12/cour...
Courting Trouble
The prison population projections out today are produced to aid policy development, capacity planning and resource allocation within the ...
reformingprisons.blogspot.com
December 4, 2025 at 10:18 PM
How will court reform impact on prison numbers?
reformingprisons.blogspot.com/2025/12/cour...
reformingprisons.blogspot.com/2025/12/cour...
How will court reform impact on prison numbers?
reformingprisons.blogspot.com/2025/12/cour...
reformingprisons.blogspot.com/2025/12/cour...
Courting Trouble
The prison population projections out today are produced to aid policy development, capacity planning and resource allocation within the ...
reformingprisons.blogspot.com
December 4, 2025 at 10:18 PM
How will court reform impact on prison numbers?
reformingprisons.blogspot.com/2025/12/cour...
reformingprisons.blogspot.com/2025/12/cour...
Reposted
David Lammy wants to end the court backlog by restricting the usage of jury trials.
Listen to our podcast episode from March where Alex Chalk KC and Dominic Thomas debate this issue, discussing the introduction of intermediate courts and other solutions to reduce the backlog.
🎧➡️ pod.fo/e/2b5a06
Listen to our podcast episode from March where Alex Chalk KC and Dominic Thomas debate this issue, discussing the introduction of intermediate courts and other solutions to reduce the backlog.
🎧➡️ pod.fo/e/2b5a06
🚨NEW EPISODE🚨
Alex Chalk KC and Dominic Thomas debate solutions that could finally fix the crown court backlog.
Will more judge sitting days or a new 'intermediate' court finally bring justice to the tens of thousands of victims, families and defendants still stuck in limbo?
🎧 pod.fo/e/2b5a06
Alex Chalk KC and Dominic Thomas debate solutions that could finally fix the crown court backlog.
Will more judge sitting days or a new 'intermediate' court finally bring justice to the tens of thousands of victims, families and defendants still stuck in limbo?
🎧 pod.fo/e/2b5a06
November 26, 2025 at 10:43 AM
David Lammy wants to end the court backlog by restricting the usage of jury trials.
Listen to our podcast episode from March where Alex Chalk KC and Dominic Thomas debate this issue, discussing the introduction of intermediate courts and other solutions to reduce the backlog.
🎧➡️ pod.fo/e/2b5a06
Listen to our podcast episode from March where Alex Chalk KC and Dominic Thomas debate this issue, discussing the introduction of intermediate courts and other solutions to reduce the backlog.
🎧➡️ pod.fo/e/2b5a06
Reposted
In March barrister Dominic Thomas passionately put the argument against restricting jury trials in our podcast.
With over 70,000 cases waiting to be heard in the crown court, why are 30% of courtrooms sitting empty? 🤔
On our latest podcast episode, Dominic Thomas explains how the government cap on judicial sitting hours is preventing us from getting through the backlog.
🎧 Hear more: pod.fo/e/2b5a06
On our latest podcast episode, Dominic Thomas explains how the government cap on judicial sitting hours is preventing us from getting through the backlog.
🎧 Hear more: pod.fo/e/2b5a06
November 26, 2025 at 7:29 AM
In March barrister Dominic Thomas passionately put the argument against restricting jury trials in our podcast.
Reposted
More Questions than Answers on Fire Safety in Prisons
@robroballen.bsky.social reveals that the 116 prisons in England saw 534 fire related injuries in the last financial year with most fires started by vapes.
reformingprisons.blogspot.com/2025/11/more...
@robroballen.bsky.social reveals that the 116 prisons in England saw 534 fire related injuries in the last financial year with most fires started by vapes.
reformingprisons.blogspot.com/2025/11/more...
More Questions than Answers on Fire Safety in Prisons
Prison fires and subsequent injuries remain of serious concern according to the recently published 2024-25 Annual Report of the Crown Prem...
reformingprisons.blogspot.com
November 10, 2025 at 6:32 AM
More Questions than Answers on Fire Safety in Prisons
@robroballen.bsky.social reveals that the 116 prisons in England saw 534 fire related injuries in the last financial year with most fires started by vapes.
reformingprisons.blogspot.com/2025/11/more...
@robroballen.bsky.social reveals that the 116 prisons in England saw 534 fire related injuries in the last financial year with most fires started by vapes.
reformingprisons.blogspot.com/2025/11/more...
Reposted
Which Way for Youth Custody?
@robroballen.bsky.social analyses constructive options for a better way forward
reformingprisons.blogspot.com/2025/11/whic...
@robroballen.bsky.social analyses constructive options for a better way forward
reformingprisons.blogspot.com/2025/11/whic...
Which Way for Youth Custody?
Radical stuff from the Childrens Commissioner in her Longford Lecture this week- urging that Young Offender Institutions are closed now, ...
reformingprisons.blogspot.com
November 14, 2025 at 6:43 AM
Which Way for Youth Custody?
@robroballen.bsky.social analyses constructive options for a better way forward
reformingprisons.blogspot.com/2025/11/whic...
@robroballen.bsky.social analyses constructive options for a better way forward
reformingprisons.blogspot.com/2025/11/whic...
A busy week in respect of youth custody in England and Wales Some thoughts on the best way forward.
reformingprisons.blogspot.com/2025/11/whic...
reformingprisons.blogspot.com/2025/11/whic...
November 14, 2025 at 5:11 AM
A busy week in respect of youth custody in England and Wales Some thoughts on the best way forward.
reformingprisons.blogspot.com/2025/11/whic...
reformingprisons.blogspot.com/2025/11/whic...
The latest prison fire safety report is out - but it raises as many questions as it answers. "It may not seem the highest priority just now, but issues like fire safety never are until they are".
reformingprisons.blogspot.com/2025/11/more...
reformingprisons.blogspot.com/2025/11/more...
More Questions than Answers on Fire Safety in Prisons
Prison fires and subsequent injuries remain of serious concern according to the recently published 2024-25 Annual Report of the Crown Prem...
reformingprisons.blogspot.com
November 9, 2025 at 9:30 AM
The latest prison fire safety report is out - but it raises as many questions as it answers. "It may not seem the highest priority just now, but issues like fire safety never are until they are".
reformingprisons.blogspot.com/2025/11/more...
reformingprisons.blogspot.com/2025/11/more...
Reminded of this correction today
November 8, 2025 at 8:24 AM
Reminded of this correction today
Latest update: MoJ Permanent Secretary tells Public Accounts Committee they hope to reopen the site in March 2026. Also says spec for faulty doors was the same as has been used in other secure units. Which begs the question- are they a risk to the safety of residents and staff in those places too?
October 23, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Latest update: MoJ Permanent Secretary tells Public Accounts Committee they hope to reopen the site in March 2026. Also says spec for faulty doors was the same as has been used in other secure units. Which begs the question- are they a risk to the safety of residents and staff in those places too?
Reposted
🚨NEW EPISODE🚨
IPP ended in 2012, but 1,000+ people are still serving indefinite sentences in prison.
Andrew Morris & Matthew Parris discuss why people are still held under IPP & how we can rid ourselves of its legacy once and for all.
🎧Listen now: pod.fo/e/33eb2a
IPP ended in 2012, but 1,000+ people are still serving indefinite sentences in prison.
Andrew Morris & Matthew Parris discuss why people are still held under IPP & how we can rid ourselves of its legacy once and for all.
🎧Listen now: pod.fo/e/33eb2a
October 17, 2025 at 8:35 AM
🚨NEW EPISODE🚨
IPP ended in 2012, but 1,000+ people are still serving indefinite sentences in prison.
Andrew Morris & Matthew Parris discuss why people are still held under IPP & how we can rid ourselves of its legacy once and for all.
🎧Listen now: pod.fo/e/33eb2a
IPP ended in 2012, but 1,000+ people are still serving indefinite sentences in prison.
Andrew Morris & Matthew Parris discuss why people are still held under IPP & how we can rid ourselves of its legacy once and for all.
🎧Listen now: pod.fo/e/33eb2a
Reposted
📢 New episode of the Transform Justice Podcast out tomorrow!
This week we were joined by Matthew Parris and Andrew Morris to discuss the injustice and long-term consequences of IPP sentences.
Follow the podcast and tune in from tomorrow morning:
➡️https://podfollow.com/the-transform-justice-podcast
This week we were joined by Matthew Parris and Andrew Morris to discuss the injustice and long-term consequences of IPP sentences.
Follow the podcast and tune in from tomorrow morning:
➡️https://podfollow.com/the-transform-justice-podcast
October 16, 2025 at 10:57 AM
📢 New episode of the Transform Justice Podcast out tomorrow!
This week we were joined by Matthew Parris and Andrew Morris to discuss the injustice and long-term consequences of IPP sentences.
Follow the podcast and tune in from tomorrow morning:
➡️https://podfollow.com/the-transform-justice-podcast
This week we were joined by Matthew Parris and Andrew Morris to discuss the injustice and long-term consequences of IPP sentences.
Follow the podcast and tune in from tomorrow morning:
➡️https://podfollow.com/the-transform-justice-podcast
HMP Stafford housing many older prisoners has longstanding legionella issue, with shower blocks often closed.
Local watchdog says there's insufficient funding to provide a permanent fix.
HSE should pay a visit imo
cloud-platform-e218f50a4812967ba1215eaecede923f.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/site...
Local watchdog says there's insufficient funding to provide a permanent fix.
HSE should pay a visit imo
cloud-platform-e218f50a4812967ba1215eaecede923f.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/site...
cloud-platform-e218f50a4812967ba1215eaecede923f.s3.amazonaws.com
October 16, 2025 at 10:38 AM
HMP Stafford housing many older prisoners has longstanding legionella issue, with shower blocks often closed.
Local watchdog says there's insufficient funding to provide a permanent fix.
HSE should pay a visit imo
cloud-platform-e218f50a4812967ba1215eaecede923f.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/site...
Local watchdog says there's insufficient funding to provide a permanent fix.
HSE should pay a visit imo
cloud-platform-e218f50a4812967ba1215eaecede923f.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/site...