What's the purpose of the site?
The idea is to provide links to major news stories about criminal justice issues.
What kind of links are provided?
Links fall into 3 main categories:
- News Stories
Online newspapers, TV & radio stations, electronic media
- Official Sources
Government websites, charities, businesses, etc. These will usually be headed by a 'Press Release' graphic.
- Reports
Online reports and statistical sources. these will usually be headed with a 'Reports' graphic.
How frequently is it updated?
I try to update it every weekday, usually by 9.30 at the latest. However, there are occasions when I am travelling and updating it is difficult, so I can not guarantee this. I try to give year round coverage, but again, funding limitations mean this cannot be guaranteed.
How do you decide what to include?
Good question. Basically I include anything that would be of interest to the general criminal justice audience. Broadly speaking that includes things like policy announcements, reports, opinion pieces, etc.
What areas do you cover?
You can get a good idea by looking at the categories listed in the left-hand column on the main page. The weblog covers areas such as police, probation, prisons, government policies, young offenders.
What areas don't you cover?
I don't do much on community safety initiatives, because there are masses of those and I couldn't keep up. I don't cover many international stories - although I do a few - because generally these are of little impact on the UK Criminal justice system.
Do you include specific criminal cases?
No, for the simple reason that it would overload the weblog. The only time I include specific cases, is when they have some kind of broader implication for the criminal justice system. I do, however, often include reports on specific prisons, as these generally have implications for the whole prison system.
So a case will be included if it sets a new precedent in terms of sentencing, or if it raises broader issues which affect the criminal justice system in the UK.
Why are there so many stories from the BBC and Guardian?
The simple reason is that these are the most comprehensive news stories with regard to UK criminal justice issues. Also, they do not restrict the archives of their news stories, so I can be pretty confident that the story will remain on there for some time. So it's more pragmatic than a reflection of any editorial slant.
Why is there hardly anything from the Daily Mail and Daily Express?
Because their websites are crap. Next. Don't believe me? Go here and here.
Do you list events?
Yes, here. Although I don't go searching for them. So any events listed are simply because the organisation putting the event on has contacted me. If you would like your event listed do get in touch.
How is this site funded?
This site receives funding from Rethinking Crime and Punishment, a project of the Esmée Fairbairn Trust. However, it only receives a relatively small amount; the site is very much a part-time venture. It is also supported by the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, although it is independent of the Centre. (Basically, what I'm saying is that I'm responsible for the content here!)
Why did you begin it?
I began it as a personal venture. I was interested in a particular story about a prison, but I couldn't find anywhere that brought all the sources of information - news, reports, government statements - together. So I started it.
What do you use to build it?
I use Radio Userland, an excellent, if sometimes opaque, weblogging tool.
Who is responsible for the site?
This site is maintained by Nick Page. You can find more about me here. Or you can contact me by clicking on the small envelope on this page.
9:31:23 AM
|
