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Events

Events organised by the Criminal Justice Alliance's member organisations are listed below.

January 2012

Institute for Public Policy Research: Ideas on the 3rd Floor: Punishment - Should we lock ‘em up?
24 January 2012, Newcastle
Thom Brooks, Reader in Political and Legal Philosophy from Newcastle University, and Rick Muir, Associate Director of Public Services at IPPR, will discuss the concept of punishment - an area of increasing importance and concern to both citizens and politicians. Thom Brooks will explore questions such as: how do we decide what should be crimes? How do we decide when someone is responsible for a crime? What should we do with criminals? Rick Muir will respond to Thom's argument and will explore how ‘justice reinvestment’ could more effectively rehabilitate offenders. Further information about the conference is available here. To book a place at this event, please email north@ippr.org.

Mencap: Raising Your Game
January 2012
Do you work with young people going to court? Raising Your Game (RYG) are making a film for and by young people with a communication difficulty aged 18 and over to prepare them for court. We're looking for contributors to tell us what court was like; the people, the building and the language. The young people don't have to speak about offences or be filmed, we want to gather a range of general experiences. If you know anyone that works with young people who may have been in court then please pass this link on and help us prepare vulnerable young people for the courtroom experience. For more information and to get in touch: http://raisingyourgame.mencap.org.uk/category/all/news.

Clinks: The role of the VCS in desistance
26 January 2012, Birmingham
'Playing to our strengths' is a national conference exploring the approaches that help offenders to desist from offending and the role of the voluntary and community sector (VCS).  It will explore the implications of opening up the 'offender management' market and other changing priorities to the criminal justice landscape. Keynote speakers include Fergus McNeill, a leading expert on desistance; Clive Martin, Director of Clinks; Ian Poree, Director of Commissioning at NOMS; and Sara Llewellin, Chief Executive of the Barrow Cadbury Trust. Seminars will include 'The role of Police and Crime Commissioners', 'Developing user voice', 'New models of finance', 'Developing the workforce', and 'Desistance mentoring'. For more information and to book a place, click here.

February 2012

Westminster Legal Policy Forum: The Future of Legal Aid
2 February, Central London
This seminar will provide an opportunity to assess Government's revised plans for the reform of legal aid, and to discuss key proposals set out in Government's recent response to the Reform of Legal Aid in England and Wales Green Paper. Delegates will have the opportunity to assess how Government has sought to find substantial savings in the legal aid budget, and to consider the implications that proposals may have for access to justice. Discussion will focus on how proposals will reduce the scope and remit of legal aid - looking at areas such as clinical negligence, personal injury, employment and immigration - and will reflect on the way in which Government has responded to concerns raised during its consultation. To book a place, click here.

JUSTICE: Open discussion on the future of surveillance and the right to privacy in the UK
6 February 2012, Wilson Room, Portcullis House, Westminster London SW1A 2LW
JUSTICE, in its recent report, Freedom from Suspicion: Surveillance Reform for a Digital Age, conducts a detailed review of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) and concludes that it is outdated and ripe for reform. Freedom from Suspicion points out that the majority of nearly three million authorisations for surveillance made under RIPA are not subject to judicial authorisation. In their proposals in the Protection of Freedoms Bill, the Government propose a welcome change to subject local authority decisions to judicial authorisation. While the Bill proposes an unenforceable code of practice on public CCTV, it will have no impact on the expansion of private surveillance. Panel participants include Angela Patrick (chair), Director of Human Rights Policy, JUSTICE; Dr Eric Metcalfe, Barrister, Monckton Chambers, former Director of Human Rights Policy for JUSTICE and author of Freedom from Suspicion and James Welch, Legal Director, Liberty. To reserve your place, please email events@justice.org.uk.

Action for Prisoners' Families: Annual Conference
Monday 27 February 2012, School of Oriental & African Studies, London, WC1
This year the Action for Prisoners’ Families annual conference will focus on how practitioners, service providers and policy makers can meet the diverse needs of prisoners’ and offenders’ families.  Speakers and workshops will look at government policy, current legislation, good practice, and the findings of the latest research. Sessions will consider how race, disability, sexuality, culture, religion and nature of sentence impact on families, as well as offer practical solutions. Speakers include Dreda Say Mitchell, Tim Loughton MP (invited) and Celia Hannon. For further information, click here.

March 2012

Safe Ground: Father Inside Training
6 March, Rugby, Warwickshire
The Fathers Inside programme is a groundbreaking parenting course which aims to help prisoners contribute to society by teaching them how to support their children’s education and upbringing whilst in custody. Fathers Inside is currently delivered in 10 establishments across England and Wales. This three day residential training will give staff the tools to set up and deliver the programme, as well as give them the opportunity to work with tutors and Officers across our network of prisons. To book a place, click here.

Institute of Criminology: Masters in Applied Criminology
March, Cambridge
The Institute of Criminology (University of Cambridge) runs a two-year, part-time Masters Course in Applied Criminology, Penology and Management for practitioners working in all areas of criminal justice. Next year’s course begins in March 2012. Further details, including course dates, fees, and the syllabus outline, can be obtained here.

Restorative Justice Council: Inclusive Restorative Practice – Enabling Participation
29 March 2012, Central London
This conference is suitable for anyone delivering restorative practice/restorative justice in schools, care homes, local authorities, police, prisons, probation, youth offending teams, workplaces and community based agencies. The keynote speaker is Dr Brian Steels, visiting lecturer at the Crime Research Centre at the University of Western Australia, Research Fellow at Curtin University’s Centre for Aboriginal Studies, and an international expert on restorative practice. Dr Steels is also Director of the Asia Pacific Forum for Restorative Justice, and leads the Institute for Restorative Justice and Penal Reform, Australia. He is a facilitator and trainer of RJ Practices, experienced in facilitating various culturally appropriate restorative processes from small conferences to large healing circles. This practical conference will help you to ensure – through assessing and meeting the needs of those you work with – that restorative practice is accessible to all. To find out more about this event and download the full agenda with timings for the day, click here or visit the RJC website. To book for this event now, click here.

Are you a Criminal Justice Alliance member with an event that you would like to advertise here? Please email us with details.