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Prisons - new material (47)

01 August 2001

Predicting the likelihood of rearrest among Shock Incarceration Graduates: Moving beyond another nail in the Boot Camp Coffin, JB Stinchcomb & Clinton Terry. Crime & Delinquency vol 47 no 2 (April) 2001, pp221?242.

This study of a 90?day, jail based shock incarceration programme found relationships between the likelihood of being re?arrested and race, type of release, age and criminal history.

Prisoners' Rights Bulletin. Prisoners Advice Service, issue 16 (September) 2001, pp12.

Contains recent prison law case reports, an update on recent Prison Service Instructions and Orders and an article examining critically the current proposals for lifer management arising from the Joint Thematic Review. Available from: Prisoners Advice Service, Unit 305, Hatton Square, 16/16A Baldwins Gardens London EC1N 7RJ. Tel: 0207 405 8090.

Prison Report. Prison Reform Trust, issue 55 (Summer) 2001 pp32.

Contains a round up of news from UK prisons, a series of articles about problems with visits to prisoners, prison drugs supply reduction strategy, the formation of a national probation service, and extracts from Sir David Ramsbotham's recent Prison Reform Trust lecture. Available from the Prison Reform Trust,15 Northburgh Street,London EC1V OJR. Tel: 0207 251 5070.

Hunger?strikes: a prisoner's right or a "wicked folly"?, J Williams. Howard Journal of Criminal Justice vol 49 no 2 (May) 2001, pp285?296.

The decision to allow the force?feeding of Ian Brady raises many complex ethical and legal issues. Early case law sanctioned force?feeding, as suicide was illegal. However, this raises the question of whether death by hunger?strike is suicide, or simply an exercise of the right to self?determination. Recent case law provides a mixed message. Some cases recognise the duty of the prison authorities to intervene, others that it is merely a power, whilst a third category emphasises self-determination. American case law also fails to give clear guidance on the constitutionality of force?feeding. This article examines the case law, and considers the impact of the Human Rights Act 1998 on the force?feeding of hunger?striking prisoners.