Latest news with #violentcriminals
BBC News
5 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Plans to restrict where violent and sexual offenders can go
Restrictions on serious sexual and violent criminals forcing them stay in specific areas are being planned by the would be limited to a geographical zone, policed by tougher monitoring and enhanced tagging, under legislation being drawn exclusion zones are already used in licence restrictions as somewhere an offender cannot go, the new system would instead specify the confined area where they are allowed to go. Ministers say this would give victims greater peace of there are concerns that the plans would place more pressure on the probation service - something the government says it hopes to alleviate with more staff and a greater use of technology. Presently, serious sexual and violent offenders can be ordered upon release not to enter the area where their victim lives - but outside of these exclusions, there is a risk the two could encounter one the government's plans, the onus would shift to confining the offender to specific areas tailored to them and developed in consultation with the victim, with the possibility of time in prison for those who breach Ministry of Justice (MoJ) says this would allow victims to travel free of worry about meeting their Minister Alex Davies-Jones said the fresh approach would "give them the peace of mind they deserve and rebuild their lives without fear".One domestic abuse victim, named Leanne, told PA news agency she was "ecstatic" about the said, in her experience, there were "places where I was confronted" even when her abuser had restraining orders in place, and that if "I knew I could go to those places safely, happy days, I'm protected".The MoJ says increased tagging of released offenders and a greater reliance on monitoring technology will help ensure the restriction zones are adhered one probation officer said the new zones would put more pressure on the service when it was already struggling to monitor the number of offenders in the community."It's like they just keep adding to our workload without actually telling us they're going to be doing that," they said. "And we just get more stressed and put under pressure. These zones will mean more monitoring and more responsibility for us in probation."Last year, the government began releasing thousands of inmates early to ease this prevented the UK's prisons running out of spaces, it was criticised for shifting further pressure on to the probation service and police forces. Meanwhile, some prisoners were released without having monitoring tags MoJ says at least 1,300 new trainee probation officers will be recruited into the service next year to increase its monitoring probation staff have told the BBC it can take between 12 and 24 months to properly train an say the plans will be attached to the sentencing bill likely to be introduced to Parliament next month. This bill will probably also seek to reduce the minimum amount of time less serious offenders have to serve to a third of their sentence, as part of efforts to ease prison proposals were criticised by victims' charities and probation staff when announced in May.
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Louisiana jail worker accused of sneaky act that helped ten inmates escape through hole in wall
A Louisiana jail worker has been arrested after admitting to helping a group of violent criminals escape by turning off the water supply to their cell. Ten dangerous inmates were discovered missing during a routine head count at Orleans Parish Jail Friday morning. According to Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson, the inmates managed to escape from their cell after breaching a wall behind a toilet. Authorities believe sheriff's employees may have helped, and three have been suspended. On Tuesday, authorities announced their first staff arrest. Sterling Williams, 33, confessed that one of the escapees 'advised him to turn the water off in the cell' before the men slipped away through the hole in the wall, according to Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill. In an arrest affidavit, Williams said one of the inmates who escaped had threatened to 'shank' him if he did not turn off the water. Another inmate tried to take Williams' phone and attempted to get him to bring a book with cash app information. Williams, who worked in maintenance at the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office, was arrested on Monday. Authorities said by turning off the water, Williams 'willfully and maliciously assisted with the escape.' 'If the inmates removed the sink in the cell and disconnected the rest of the plumbing with the water still on, the plan to escape would not have been successful and potentially flooded the cell, drawing attention to their actions,' the affidavit stated. He was booked at Orleans Parish jail, then relocated to another facility and charged with 10 counts of simple escape and malfeasance in office. 'This is a continuing investigation, and we will provide updates as often as possible. We will uncover all the facts eventually and anyone who aided and abetted will be prosecuted to the full extent the law allows,' Murrill said. 'I encourage anyone who knows anything and even those who may have provided assistance to come forward now to obtain the best possible outcome in their particular case.' During a New Orleans City Council meeting on Tuesday, Hutson said she 'takes full accountability' for the escape. 'There were procedural failures and missed notifications, but there were also intentional wrongdoings - this was a coordinated effort aided by individuals inside our own agency who made the choice to break the law,' she said. 'We are continuing to pursue everyone involved.' Since the escape, four of the inmates have been captured, and a manhunt continues for the other six. The inmates have been identified as Corey Boyd, Dkenan Dennis, Jermaine Donald, Derrick Groves, Antoine Massey, Robert Moody, Kendell Myles, Gary Price, Leo Tate and Lenton Vanburen. Price, 21, was captured Monday night in New Orleans, according the Louisiana State Police (LSP). He was charged with first-degree murder and was being held without bond when he escaped. Police located him in New Orleans East and arrested him with the assistance of the SWAT team. 'Following his arrest, LSP Air Support and members of the SWAT team transported Price to a secure correctional facility,' LSP said.
