Our civil liberties department undertakes a variety of prison law work, including advising both indeterminate and determinate sentences*. We aim to ensure that an individual’s Human Rights are maintained through our extensive knowledge of the Human Rights Act.
The department has been carrying out work in this field for nearly 10 years working closely alongside our nationally renowned appeal’s team.
Areas of specialism
- Sentence planning and advice
- Parole board representation
- Recalls to custody
- Category A representation
- Advice on re-categorisation
- Minimum term representation
- Adjudications (hearings for alleged breaches of prison rules)
The team regularly advises on Judicial Review applications to the High Court having a wealth of experience and connections with leading Barristers chambers in Manchester and London. It is understood that shortly following the opening of the Administrative Court in Manchester; the team was responsible for nearly 10% of the cases issued in the first month. The team have pursued cases as far as the House of Lords and European Court of Human Rights.
The team are members of the Association of Prison Lawyers, Inquest Lawyers Group, Manchester Prison Law Practitioner Group and Prison Lawyers Advisory Group, meaning that they have regular and updated knowledge on key issues affecting the work.
The prison law team offer advice, support and expertise when it is needed in an efficient and understandable way.
Cases of interest include
*Indeterminate sentences have a minimum sentence handed out and the defendant must satisfy the authorities he or she is fit for release and does not pose any threat to the community. Determinate sentences are defined by law and are resolute, the judge and jury do not set the sentence it is set by statue and cannot be lessened by the judge only added to.
