Veronica Bower-Feek's Blog

Reblogged from revolvingdoorbook:

It is now only a few weeks before The Probation Service is split up as the government is determined to dismantle it whatever the cost.

COST is the key fact here, as selling off the new Community Rehabilitation Companies to the private sector will undoubtedly be cheaper in the short term.

The fact that these companies will be run by profit hungry organisations whose main concern is their bottom line is clearly very worrying.

Read more… 174 more words

It is now only a few weeks before The Probation Service is split up as the government is determined to dismantle it whatever the cost.

COST is the key fact here, as selling off the new Community Rehabilitation Companies to the private sector will undoubtedly be cheaper in the short term.

The fact that these companies will be run by profit hungry organisations whose main concern is their bottom line is clearly very worrying. However, the government are dressing this up as a big transformation in the way in which offenders are rehabilitated rather than admitting to yet another cost cutting exercise.

For the last few years, public sector cuts have crippled both the Prison Estate and Probation Services, and as a result, much of the good work that was being done in prisons has been stopped, with significant reductions in Offender Behaviour Programmes. 

There has also been a significant reduction in Probation staff within the Prison Estate, with much of the work previously completed by Probation Staff being farmed out to unqualified and overworked Prison Officers.

Additionally, Probation Officers in the community are struggling with enormous case loads, and many of them are working very long days for no extra pay.

Ultimately, the government wants to shift responsibility for rehabilitation to both the private sector and the charitable sector, who of course, can then be blamed when things go wrong.

This is possibly the worst bit of legislation in the last thirty years. Well done Chris Grayling!

Christmas is an emotional time for many of us, but imagine how much harder it must be for those behind bars.

Whatever prisoners have or haven’t done, spare a thought for how they must feel on the one day when most of those who celebrate Xmas are with family and friends.

‘Revolving Door’ is fictional, but the issues faced by the main character, are not.

Happy Christmas to all prisoners worldwide. I hope that one day you may be free.

Best Wishes

Veronica

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Fast-paced crime drama about a young man who is released from prison homeless and broke.

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I don’t know the exact reasons for yesterday’s riots in two prisons in the UK, but having worked for three years in a B category prison I’ve a fair idea.

As part of this government’s irresponsible slashing budget cuts, prisons across the country have been forced to make massive savings.

Unfortunately, the only way that they can really save money is to reduce staff and staffing levels. This in turn means that prisoners are locked up in their cells for longer periods as they need fewer officers to supervise them if they are ‘banged up’

I saw this, and other measures, being discussed and implemented where I worked, and the clear losers in this are the prisoners who have their association time reduced.

Additionally, as part of these cuts, many prisons have had to stop running costly offender rehabilitation programmes.

This is astonishing given the government’s current rhetoric about rehabilitation offenders under their ‘transforming rehabilitation’ initiative.

Until all this madness stops, I think we can expect to see more unrest in prisons and ultimately an increase in crime.

For more information see: http://www.sadiqkhan.org.uk/sadiq_s_speech_at_opposition_day_debate_probation_reforms

Reblogged from revolvingdoorbook:

FREE on KINDLE Saturday November 2

Grab your free download of this page-turning crime novel and sit back and read it!

FREE for one day only Saturday November 2nd 2013

FREE on KINDLE Saturday November 2

Grab your free download of this page-turning crime novel and sit back and read it!

FREE for one day only Saturday November 2nd 2013

Download ‘Revolving Door’ FREE on KINDLE this coming Saturday.

This is a one day promotion so don’t miss out!

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http://www.amazon.co.uk/Revolving-Door-Veronica-Bower-Feek/dp/1291333223

Please comment on this book if you want to.

Reblogged from revolvingdoorbook:

Released from prison, and homeless, Mickey fights to stay free. Soon, though, he is unwittingly caught up in what is to become his greatest challenge. 

Mickey has been released from prison following a short sentence. He is homeless and broke and has known little else since he was sixteen but this time he's determined to stay out. Forced to stay with a stranger or sleep on the streets, Mickey is drawn into a drama which threatens his liberty.

Read more… 78 more words