25.10.12 APL AGM & Prison Law Update 2012 “The Open Prison Estate”

APL AGM & Conference – Prison Law Update 2012 “The Open Prison Estate”
Date: 25th October 2012
Time: 10.30am – 5.00pm
Location: Palace Hotel, Manchester
CPD Points: 5.5

Speakers: Hamish Arnott (Bhatt Murphy); Carl Buckley ( Stevens Solicitors ); Rachel Chapman ( Broudie Jackson Canter ); Dr Jackie Craissati (Forensic & Clinical Psychologist); Simon Creighton (Bhatt Murphy); Vijay Jagadesham (Garden Court North Chambers); Laura Janes (Howard League / Scott Moncrieff ); Eoin McLennan-Murray (President of Prison Governors Association); Mike Pemberton (Stephensons LLP); Andrew Sperling (Chair APL / Scott Moncrieff); Matthew Stanbury (Garden Court North Chambers); Kate Stone (Garden Court North Chambers); Pete Weatherby QC (Garden Court North Chambers); Along with representatives from: The Parole Board and Public Protection Casework Section (PPCS)

The open prison bottleneck is the latest crisis in the prison system resulting from the IPP debacle. Lifers are being re-categorised into open conditions but there aren’t enough places. Recent judicial review challenges have been conceded, often at the last minute, and the prison service appears to feel vulnerable, making this fertile ground for legal challenge.

This one-day conference presented by Garden Court North Chambers in conjunction with the Association of Prison Lawyers (APL) aims to explore the open prison estate and the problems which have arisen for different types of prisoners. It will also tell you why and how to pursue legal remedies.

Programme

10.30am Morning Session

Welcome Andrew Sperling, Chairman, APL

Session one – Getting to open conditions (45 mins)
Pete Weatherby QC and Matthew Stanbury

  • The effect of recent cases relating to failure to transfer indeterminate sentence prisoners to the open estate and the provision of ROTL, and the new PSI 21/2012.
  • Catch 22: the difficulties faced by determinate sentence prisoners who cannot achieve parole without an opportunity to prove themselves in the open estate.

Session two –Problems that arise in the open estate (1hr 45) Chair – Kate Stone

  • Practical difficulties: prisoner’s earnings; delays when you get to open conditions; removal from open conditions etc – Vijay Jagadesham and Andrew Sperling
  • Particular circumstances which might inhibit transfer to open conditions such as:
    * foreign national status – Hamish Arnott
    * learning disabilities – Matthew Stanbury
    * restraining orders and POCA issues- Vijay Jagadesham
  • Women prisoners and open conditions – Rachel Chapman
  • Young people and open conditions – Laura Janes

LUNCH

1.45pm Afternoon Session

Afternoon Chair – Pete Weatherby QC

Session three – Open Conditions Question Time (1hr)
Invited panel to include Parole Board, PPCS, Eoin McLennan-Murray (President of Prison Governors Association) and Simon Creighton

Session four – A psychological perspective (45 mins)
Dr Jackie Craissati

Session five – Funding prison law work (45 mins)
Carl Buckley and Mike Pemberton
A round-up of the latest developments in funding for all prison law work

Session five – Closing discussion and Q&A (30mins)
Pete Weatherby QC, Andrew Sperling and other panel members
Round-up and Q&A on trends in prison rights law; you pick the topics.

Timetable

9.30 – 10.15    APL AGM (45 mins)
10.15 – 10.30 COFFEE / REGISTRATION
10.30 – 1.00   Morning session (2hr 30)
1.00 – 1.45     LUNCH
1.45 – 3.30    Afternoon session (1hr 45)
3.30 – 3.45    COFFEE
3.45 – 5.00   Afternoon session (1hr 15)

Cost

£85 + VAT per delegate or a discounted rate of £60 + VAT for APL members (APL membership no. to be quoted on booking form).

APL Membership information

Accreditation

Garden Court North Chambers are approved by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority as authorised providers of Prison Law CPD. This seminar will be accredited for 5.5 CPD points.

Venue

The Palace Hotel, Oxford Street, Manchester M60 7HA

Booking information

Places are limited so book early to avoid disappointment. To reserve a place, complete and return the booking form below along with the appropriate delegate fee. You will then be sent confirmation of your place. For more details please contact Helen Ray on 0161 236 1840 or hray@gcnchambers.co.uk .

FLYER AND BOOKING FORM 25/10/12