Prison service news

Here are some recent news articles and updates from the prison service:

UK

• The UK's Ministry of Justice has announced plans to increase the use of technology to reduce reoffending rates in prisons. The plans include the use of artificial intelligence to identify prisoners at risk of reoffending and provide them with targeted support. (Source: Ministry of Justice)
• A report by the Prison Reform Trust has highlighted concerns about the rising number of prisoners with mental health problems in UK prisons. The report found that 60% of prisoners had a mental health problem, and that the prison service was struggling to provide adequate support. (Source: Prison Reform Trust)
• The UK's Chief Inspector of Prisons has criticized the government's plans to increase the use of private prisons. The inspector, Peter Clarke, said that the plans would lead to a "two-tier" system, with private prisons providing better conditions and services than public prisons. (Source: The Guardian)

US

• The US Department of Justice has announced plans to reduce the use of solitary confinement in federal prisons. The plans include the creation of a new classification system to identify prisoners who are at risk of harm and provide them with alternative forms of confinement. (Source: US Department of Justice)
• A report by the Vera Institute of Justice has highlighted concerns about the use of immigration detention centers in the US. The report found that many of the centers were overcrowded and lacked adequate medical care, and that prisoners were often held for extended periods without being charged with a crime. (Source: Vera Institute of Justice)
• The US Federal Bureau of Prisons has announced plans to increase the use of video conferencing to reduce the need for in-person visits to prisons. The plans include the installation of video conferencing equipment in many prisons and the creation of a new system for prisoners to schedule video visits with their families. (Source: Federal Bureau of Prisons)

International

• The United Nations has called for the abolition of life imprisonment without parole, citing concerns about the human rights of prisoners. The UN's Special Rapporteur on Torture, Nils Melzer, said that life imprisonment without parole was a form of "cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment". (Source: UN News)
• A report by the International Committee of the Red Cross has highlighted concerns about the treatment of prisoners in conflict zones. The report found that many prisoners were being held in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, and that they were often subjected to torture and other forms of ill-treatment. (Source: International Committee of the Red Cross)
• The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that the UK's system for dealing with prisoners who are deemed to be a risk to the public is in violation of human rights law. The court found that the system was too broad and did not provide adequate safeguards against arbitrary detention. (Source: European Court of Human Rights)