1. Support the
reform remand campaign
2. Write to your MP
using the letter below
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Support
the Campaign |
[Your Member of Parliament]
House
of Commons
London SW1A OAA
Dear [Your Member of Parliament],
I am deeply concerned about the treatment of, and conditions
for, people in prison awaiting trial. I would like to bring
to your attention the following key facts:
- Over 50,000 people,
innocent until proven guilty, were imprisoned in England
and Wales last year awaiting trial.
- They were in prison
for an average time of 49 days – although over 200
of them stayed behind bars for more than two years.
- They can be locked
in their cells for up to 22 hours a day, with no access
to showers and with just 30 minutes exercise.
- They usually have
to share a cramped cell, eat their food in this cell and
see their cell mate use the toilet in front of them.
- Often they will
share a cell with a convicted prisoner.
- They have limited
access to legal information to prepare for their trial.
- Many remand prisoners
are vulnerable individuals with serious drug and mental
health problems. Imprisoning them can have disastrous consequences
- Last year 36 remand
prisoners took their own lives. That is the equivalent of
one every ten days.
- But when they finally
stand trial, one in five remand prisoners are acquitted
– that means that each week around 50 people are acquitted
with little or no hope of compensation.
- And half receive
a non-custodial sentence.
The government
needs urgently to improve the conditions for remand prisoners
awaiting trial.
It should act to reduce the needless use of custodial remand.
Eight out of ten people received into prison on remand are
charged with a non-violent offence. In 2001 more than a quarter
were remanded into custody for theft and handling of stolen
goods. This suggests that remand is often used unnecessarily.
I would be most grateful if you could raise my concerns in
Parliament and with the Home Office and also investigate with
the relevant authorities the excessive use of remand by the
courts.
Yours Faithfully,
[Your name here]
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