PRESS RELEASE 01 February 2024 The Association of Prison Lawyers welcomes the High Court’s judgment on criminal legal aid funding handed down yesterday. The Law Society took the government to court over the decision not to raise criminal legal aid fees by the minimum 15% recommended in the independent criminal legal aid review (the “Bellamy […]
22 January 2024 APL has today published a new report which illustrates widespread delays and difficulties lawyers face in getting to see their clients in prison. Despite the exponential leap in the development of technologies in prison, exacerbated by Covid, these facilities are not equally and easily accessible to lawyers who need to see their […]
Earlier this week the Justice Secretary announced he is considering reducing the qualifying period after which IPP licences can be terminated from ten years to five years. Yet, information obtained under the Freedom of Information Act shows that of 141 applications for termination considered between March and May this year, only 22 were represented – […]
Our report on sustainability in prison law legal aid published today 7 August 2023, shows three-quarters of respondents do not anticipate being prison law legal aid lawyers in three years’ time. A copy of the report can be viewed here. The number of prison law legal aid providers has already been decimated, falling by 85% […]
The government response to Lord Bellamy’s Legal Aid review on prison law is bitterly disappointing. The government has dismissed the calls for an uplift in prison law fees at this stage by both Lord Bellamy’s advice and the majority of respondents to the consultation. The only reason provided is the government’s desire to “focus available […]
Achieving excellence for people in prison in a changing and impoverished climate 21 October 2022 Doughty Street Chambers, London In recent years, prison lawyers have had to grapple with a host of changes that have made representing clients in prison complicated and challenging. The Association of Prison Lawyers brings together speakers from Probation, the Parole […]
Achieving excellence for people in prison in a changing and impoverished climate 21 October 2022 Doughty Street Chambers, London In recent years, prison lawyers have had to grapple with a host of changes that have made representing clients in prison complicated and challenging. The Association of Prison Lawyers brings together speakers from Probation, the Parole […]
Prisons and immigration removal centres responded decisively to keep prisoners, children and detainees safe from COVID-19, according to Peter Clarke, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, in a report on findings from visits to 35 establishments in the early stages of the pandemic. However, Mr Clarke warned that continued severe regime restrictions in prisons – at […]
Joint Letter from the Association of Prison Lawyers and Legal Aid Practitioners Group. Link to Letter pdf (225k)
HMP Berwyn and HMYOI Wetherby among first 10 to benefit All calls recorded and restricted to 4 callers Secure video calls will be introduced to prisons and young offender institutions (YOIs) across England and Wales to maintain vital family contact for prisoners and young offenders during the coronavirus pandemic. Following a successful trial at HMP […]