Why I left HMPPS to to pursue my career as a prison law adviser.” I increasingly saw first hand how cases I perceived as having merit were being rejected. This struck an emotional chord with me. “

My experience and knowledge is extensive and varied; including progression in open conditions, assessment of IPP cases.

When I announced to my colleagues at Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) that I was leaving my position as a case manager to pursue my career as a prison law adviser, the main question asked of me was “why?”. Why was I giving up a comparatively safe, comfortable job where I achieved much respect and success to pursue a career advocating for the very people that I had been case managing, recalling to prison, and setting review periods for?

My answer to this question simply reinforced the fact that my decision has been the correct one for me personally, professionally and for what I believe in. The rights of prisoners have always been at the heart of the work that I have done. I have always acknowledged the responsibility that I had working within HMPPS. I have applied law and regulation fairly at all times. I have not been afraid of expressing my views where and when I disagreed with what was going on within the department. I came to a point in my life within the HMPPS where I had achieved pretty much everything I could.

Now, having accumulated all that experience and knowledge, it is time to change direction.

 I understand the system of recall and parole better than most. I know what recall teams and Parole Boards look for when considering release and progression. I know what annoys the HMPPS and what makes them really listen. I know what Parole Boards and Recall teams look out for when considering individual cases. This gives me a huge advantage over most dealing with this type of work.

My experience and knowledge is extensive and varied; I have specialised in Category D cases including progression in open conditions, assessment of IPP cases to identify those eligible for Parole Board release on the papers, and ensuring that dossiers are sufficiently informative to enable the Parole Board to consider release. I’m also able to draw upon my experience on considering the circumstances of a failure in open conditions following a removal from open conditions, and the criteria to secure a Secretary of State warning letter. I am also able to identify cases that meet the test for a successful Guittard application such as the successful completion of sentence plan objectives and the support of the sentence planning team, enabling a transfer to open conditions without referral to the Parole Board.

” I increasingly saw first hand how cases I perceived as having merit were being rejected. This struck an emotional chord with me. “

I am also extremely experienced in the Recall process, with an understanding of how risk is assessed to determine the type of recall (fixed term or standard) and the impact that has upon a prisoner’s sentence. I have a robust knowledge of the executive release process, with an understanding of what makes a case eligible, the support required by Probation and the measures in place by the Secretary of State to secure a successful re-release without a Parole review. I have kept up-to-date on changes in policy, including the recent Parole Board policy amendment which enables the Parole Board to release IPP offenders on the papers without the requirement of an oral hearing.

The reality is that at HMPPS I increasingly began to feel limited by my role; I wanted to do more. I increasingly saw first hand how cases I perceived as having merit were being rejected. 

This struck an emotional chord with me. I regularly received and reviewed written submissions from solicitors on behalf of their clients. Some were good, but I always felt most could be improved upon and that certainly I could do better to assist inmates achieve progression and release in order to ensure that inmates are released back in to their respective communities to re-join families and loved ones.

Wells Burcombe has been a firm that I have worked closely with throughout my time at HMPPS – indeed many of you may already have been represented by one of my colleagues. Their refreshing approach to the Parole process together with their tenacity to ensure that their clients are afforded the best opportunities has always stood out to me, in addition to their well-respected reputation across different agencies.

 I bring with me an extensive and varied set of skills in order to develop and expand the service already provided. I am able to draw upon my unique experience of working for HMPPS, providing an unparalleled service based on sound knowledge and a drive to advocate for the rights of inmates.

(left HMPPS to join Wells Burcombe)

Jez A useful person to make contact with I would say. I would encourage anyone who has a loved one on an ipp sentence to get in touch and ask 'what service can they offer'. As they have sound knowledge from the other side of the table this person could be a very useful person for the group to get to know 😉

Manage

Katherine Gleeson For sure Jez, i wrote and ask for his name and the firm he works at, On the ball 😉

https://insidetime.org/why-i-left-hmpps-to-join-wells-burcombe/