Hannah Graham
@drhannahgraham.bsky.social
Criminologist and academic | Associate Director @thesccjr.bsky.social | Commissioner, Sentencing and Penal Policy Commission | Scottish politics & policy #ScotPol | Personal account/views.
📍 Scotland 🏴
📍 Scotland 🏴
Reposted by Hannah Graham
Children need their families. Refugee children are no different.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
‘Pulling up the drawbridge’: Alf Dubs criticises Shabana Mahmood’s plans for child refugees
Exclusive: Labour peer, who came to UK as a refugee, says some ministers try to show they won’t ‘just do things because of their background’
www.theguardian.com
February 9, 2026 at 7:27 PM
Children need their families. Refugee children are no different.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Hannah Graham
The Ministry of Justice has ordered the deletion of the UK’s largest court reporting archive.
This risks undermining open justice, and I believe, undermines the public accountability role of the press by making it harder to see what is going on in the courts.
www.thetimes.com/article/77b0...
This risks undermining open justice, and I believe, undermines the public accountability role of the press by making it harder to see what is going on in the courts.
www.thetimes.com/article/77b0...
MoJ orders deletion of UK’s largest court reporting archive
Courtsdesk, which supports the media in monitoring records, is an important tool for journalists and the move raises concerns over open justice
www.thetimes.com
February 8, 2026 at 9:51 PM
The Ministry of Justice has ordered the deletion of the UK’s largest court reporting archive.
This risks undermining open justice, and I believe, undermines the public accountability role of the press by making it harder to see what is going on in the courts.
www.thetimes.com/article/77b0...
This risks undermining open justice, and I believe, undermines the public accountability role of the press by making it harder to see what is going on in the courts.
www.thetimes.com/article/77b0...
University of Strathclyde is facing questions over whether it failed to follow its own governance rules, as it pushes ahead with job cuts.
Strathclyde plans to cut 76 jobs to try to address £35 million funding gap over 2 years.
Solidarity with those affected.
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2583504...
Strathclyde plans to cut 76 jobs to try to address £35 million funding gap over 2 years.
Solidarity with those affected.
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2583504...
Fears grow Strathclyde bosses attempting to sideline Court with job cut plans
The University of Strathclyde is seeking £35m in savings and consulting on job losses but internal documents raise serious questions about whether…
www.heraldscotland.com
February 8, 2026 at 1:23 PM
University of Strathclyde is facing questions over whether it failed to follow its own governance rules, as it pushes ahead with job cuts.
Strathclyde plans to cut 76 jobs to try to address £35 million funding gap over 2 years.
Solidarity with those affected.
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2583504...
Strathclyde plans to cut 76 jobs to try to address £35 million funding gap over 2 years.
Solidarity with those affected.
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2583504...
STV News story on our independent Sentencing & Penal Policy Commission report to reduce the prison population and change Scottish Justice.
It's heartening to see First Minister @johnswinney.bsky.social call our work "well considered and thoughtful"
#Sentencing #Criminology
youtu.be/nyC1gwUwWAA?...
It's heartening to see First Minister @johnswinney.bsky.social call our work "well considered and thoughtful"
#Sentencing #Criminology
youtu.be/nyC1gwUwWAA?...
Scotland must rethink 'ineffective' two-year prison sentences
YouTube video by STV News
youtu.be
February 7, 2026 at 8:09 AM
STV News story on our independent Sentencing & Penal Policy Commission report to reduce the prison population and change Scottish Justice.
It's heartening to see First Minister @johnswinney.bsky.social call our work "well considered and thoughtful"
#Sentencing #Criminology
youtu.be/nyC1gwUwWAA?...
It's heartening to see First Minister @johnswinney.bsky.social call our work "well considered and thoughtful"
#Sentencing #Criminology
youtu.be/nyC1gwUwWAA?...
NEW: the independent Sentencing and Penal Policy Commission 🏴 final report and recommendations have been published today.
As one of the Commissioners, this year has involved an enormous amount of work. Our report sets out an agenda for change.
🔗 link to report
www.gov.scot/publications...
As one of the Commissioners, this year has involved an enormous amount of work. Our report sets out an agenda for change.
🔗 link to report
www.gov.scot/publications...
February 6, 2026 at 11:38 AM
NEW: the independent Sentencing and Penal Policy Commission 🏴 final report and recommendations have been published today.
As one of the Commissioners, this year has involved an enormous amount of work. Our report sets out an agenda for change.
🔗 link to report
www.gov.scot/publications...
As one of the Commissioners, this year has involved an enormous amount of work. Our report sets out an agenda for change.
🔗 link to report
www.gov.scot/publications...
⚖️ 📢 The independent Sentencing and Penal Policy Commission 🏴 report and recommendations will be published this Friday 6th February.
🗞 Here is an Op Ed in @heraldscotland.bsky.social by Commission Chair, Martyn Evans, setting the scene 👇 @7vans.bsky.social #Law #CrimSky #Criminology #SocialWork
🗞 Here is an Op Ed in @heraldscotland.bsky.social by Commission Chair, Martyn Evans, setting the scene 👇 @7vans.bsky.social #Law #CrimSky #Criminology #SocialWork
February 2, 2026 at 3:24 PM
⚖️ 📢 The independent Sentencing and Penal Policy Commission 🏴 report and recommendations will be published this Friday 6th February.
🗞 Here is an Op Ed in @heraldscotland.bsky.social by Commission Chair, Martyn Evans, setting the scene 👇 @7vans.bsky.social #Law #CrimSky #Criminology #SocialWork
🗞 Here is an Op Ed in @heraldscotland.bsky.social by Commission Chair, Martyn Evans, setting the scene 👇 @7vans.bsky.social #Law #CrimSky #Criminology #SocialWork
Reposted by Hannah Graham
At the end of last year I headed up to HMP Grampian to hear about prisoner rehabilitation - the vital programmes that can mean people stay out of prison after release.
It was deeply moving, often hopeful, and sometimes heartbreaking. V proud of this feature. www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...
It was deeply moving, often hopeful, and sometimes heartbreaking. V proud of this feature. www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...
'I was a waste of space, a scumbag, and pure junkie... I had been inside for so long I didn’t know how to adapt to outside any more'
Prisons are under pressure like never before, but work is underway to ensure those who are incarcerated don’t return
www.holyrood.com
January 30, 2026 at 9:14 AM
At the end of last year I headed up to HMP Grampian to hear about prisoner rehabilitation - the vital programmes that can mean people stay out of prison after release.
It was deeply moving, often hopeful, and sometimes heartbreaking. V proud of this feature. www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...
It was deeply moving, often hopeful, and sometimes heartbreaking. V proud of this feature. www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...
Reposted by Hannah Graham
Social scientists and old-school Minnesotans like me fret about areas of decline in civic culture (e.g., corporate philanthropy), but we've held up pretty well in volunteering, voting, and mutual aid. And if it's 20-below and your car needs a jump, it's a pretty good place to be.
"The federal cowboys who flooded Minnesota streets actually ran headfirst into the state’s formidable civil society — a network of civically engaged people and organizations that makes this a risky place for the federal government to pick a fight with its own citizens," writes columnist Eric Roper
Roper: How Minnesota’s civic culture fueled a tough ICE resistance and took the feds by surprise
It’s not pleasant for people to go toe-to-toe with the federal government. But in this case, it’s very Minnesotan.
bit.ly
January 29, 2026 at 10:08 PM
Social scientists and old-school Minnesotans like me fret about areas of decline in civic culture (e.g., corporate philanthropy), but we've held up pretty well in volunteering, voting, and mutual aid. And if it's 20-below and your car needs a jump, it's a pretty good place to be.
The Scottish Conservatives want a two child limit on the SNP’s flagship Scottish Child Payment, with the Tories claiming that this benefit (currently £27 per week per eligible child) discourages work and is driving an unsustainable rise in welfare spending.
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2580359...
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2580359...
Tories propose two-child limit on SNP flagship Scottish Child Payment
Scottish Conservatives propose capping the Scottish Child Payment at two children, claiming the SNP benefit discourages work and drives rising…
www.heraldscotland.com
January 28, 2026 at 12:28 PM
The Scottish Conservatives want a two child limit on the SNP’s flagship Scottish Child Payment, with the Tories claiming that this benefit (currently £27 per week per eligible child) discourages work and is driving an unsustainable rise in welfare spending.
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2580359...
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2580359...
Really hoping that this does indeed get resolved fairly and things can move on.
Legal aid is critically important and a decent uplift in fees is the right thing for the Scottish Government to be offering.
#LegalAid #Law
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2580287...
Legal aid is critically important and a decent uplift in fees is the right thing for the Scottish Government to be offering.
#LegalAid #Law
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2580287...
Ministers make major offer to increase legal aid fees to end long running dispute
The Scottish Government has made a major offer to increase legal aid fees in a bid to end a long running dispute with solicitors, The Herald can…
www.heraldscotland.com
January 28, 2026 at 12:17 PM
Really hoping that this does indeed get resolved fairly and things can move on.
Legal aid is critically important and a decent uplift in fees is the right thing for the Scottish Government to be offering.
#LegalAid #Law
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2580287...
Legal aid is critically important and a decent uplift in fees is the right thing for the Scottish Government to be offering.
#LegalAid #Law
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2580287...
Reposted by Hannah Graham
Policing is devolved in Scotland and Northern Ireland, so I imagine this won't be controversial at all.
January 25, 2026 at 2:28 PM
Policing is devolved in Scotland and Northern Ireland, so I imagine this won't be controversial at all.
Reposted by Hannah Graham
I love Stephen. The face of a doomed WW1 officer and the wardrobe of John Travolta. #thetraitors
January 23, 2026 at 9:33 PM
I love Stephen. The face of a doomed WW1 officer and the wardrobe of John Travolta. #thetraitors
Joanne Young's bravery is breathtaking.
Former Councillor pleads guilty to 48 offences of drugging and raping his former wife over a 14 year period.
This remains a live case, with multiple men accused and going to trial; contempt of court considerations apply.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
Former Councillor pleads guilty to 48 offences of drugging and raping his former wife over a 14 year period.
This remains a live case, with multiple men accused and going to trial; contempt of court considerations apply.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
Former Tory councillor admits drugging and raping wife over 14-year period
Philip Young, who served on Swindon borough council, pleads guilty to offences against ex-spouse Joanne Young
www.theguardian.com
January 23, 2026 at 7:51 PM
Joanne Young's bravery is breathtaking.
Former Councillor pleads guilty to 48 offences of drugging and raping his former wife over a 14 year period.
This remains a live case, with multiple men accused and going to trial; contempt of court considerations apply.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
Former Councillor pleads guilty to 48 offences of drugging and raping his former wife over a 14 year period.
This remains a live case, with multiple men accused and going to trial; contempt of court considerations apply.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
Reposted by Hannah Graham
“Look: Rome wasn’t burned in a day.”
Vance on the economy:
"You don't turn the Titanic around overnight"
"You don't turn the Titanic around overnight"
January 22, 2026 at 7:04 PM
“Look: Rome wasn’t burned in a day.”
Not enough books on Scottish politics are written by women.
That's just one of the reasons it is ✨️wonderful✨️ to hear Dr @maydinger.bsky.social has published her research in this new book on Scottish Indy Ref.
🔗
(* before you gasp, academic books are v expensive).
link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
That's just one of the reasons it is ✨️wonderful✨️ to hear Dr @maydinger.bsky.social has published her research in this new book on Scottish Indy Ref.
🔗
(* before you gasp, academic books are v expensive).
link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
January 22, 2026 at 6:36 PM
Not enough books on Scottish politics are written by women.
That's just one of the reasons it is ✨️wonderful✨️ to hear Dr @maydinger.bsky.social has published her research in this new book on Scottish Indy Ref.
🔗
(* before you gasp, academic books are v expensive).
link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
That's just one of the reasons it is ✨️wonderful✨️ to hear Dr @maydinger.bsky.social has published her research in this new book on Scottish Indy Ref.
🔗
(* before you gasp, academic books are v expensive).
link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
JOB: Professional Social Work Adviser for Justice, working in the new National Social Work Agency (NSWA) 🏴. Full-time, £77k-£89k salary.
#Justice #SocialWork #vacancy
fa-evxn-saasfaukgovprod1.fa.ocs.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/Candid...
#Justice #SocialWork #vacancy
fa-evxn-saasfaukgovprod1.fa.ocs.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/Candid...
January 21, 2026 at 12:41 PM
JOB: Professional Social Work Adviser for Justice, working in the new National Social Work Agency (NSWA) 🏴. Full-time, £77k-£89k salary.
#Justice #SocialWork #vacancy
fa-evxn-saasfaukgovprod1.fa.ocs.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/Candid...
#Justice #SocialWork #vacancy
fa-evxn-saasfaukgovprod1.fa.ocs.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/Candid...
“When I was in Justice, my ultimate vision for that part of the criminal justice system was to achieve, by means of #AI and technology, what Jeremy Bentham tried to do with his Panopticon. That the eyes of the state can be on you at all times," – Shabana Mahmood.
www.thenational.scot/news/2578000...
www.thenational.scot/news/2578000...
Labour want 'Panopticon' to have 'eyes of the state on you at all times'
THE Home Secretary has said she wants to create a “Panopticon” system of state surveillance.
www.thenational.scot
January 20, 2026 at 5:33 PM
“When I was in Justice, my ultimate vision for that part of the criminal justice system was to achieve, by means of #AI and technology, what Jeremy Bentham tried to do with his Panopticon. That the eyes of the state can be on you at all times," – Shabana Mahmood.
www.thenational.scot/news/2578000...
www.thenational.scot/news/2578000...
Reposted by Hannah Graham
Research published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation ahead of the 2026 Holyrood election shows that two in five economically insecure Scots are also politically disaffected, with the figure rising to more than half of the very economically insecure www.heraldscotland.com/news/2577491...
Skint and scunnered Scots backing Reform UK and Scottish Greens according to new poll
Economic insecurity is driving political disaffection as people are left feeling “overlooked” by politicians, according to new research.
www.heraldscotland.com
January 19, 2026 at 2:07 PM
Research published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation ahead of the 2026 Holyrood election shows that two in five economically insecure Scots are also politically disaffected, with the figure rising to more than half of the very economically insecure www.heraldscotland.com/news/2577491...
Reposted by Hannah Graham
A firm that runs Scotland’s prisoner transfer service is co-owned by a US corporation providing Donald Trump with bounty hunters for his mass deportation initiative.
www.theferret.scot/scotlands-pr...
www.theferret.scot/scotlands-pr...
January 16, 2026 at 1:59 PM
A firm that runs Scotland’s prisoner transfer service is co-owned by a US corporation providing Donald Trump with bounty hunters for his mass deportation initiative.
www.theferret.scot/scotlands-pr...
www.theferret.scot/scotlands-pr...
Drugs crisis inside Scottish prisons is ‘systemic failure of health provision’, the Criminal Justice Committee @parliament.scot has warned.
“The impact is felt across the whole prison environment – on people in custody, staff safety, families, and recovery outcomes."
news.stv.tv/scotland/dru...
“The impact is felt across the whole prison environment – on people in custody, staff safety, families, and recovery outcomes."
news.stv.tv/scotland/dru...
Drugs crisis inside prisons is ‘systemic failure of health provision’, MSPs warn
Holyrood committee says staff and those in custody are battling against severe overcrowding and an 'evolving supply chain', including the use of new synthetic drugs.
news.stv.tv
January 16, 2026 at 12:35 PM
Drugs crisis inside Scottish prisons is ‘systemic failure of health provision’, the Criminal Justice Committee @parliament.scot has warned.
“The impact is felt across the whole prison environment – on people in custody, staff safety, families, and recovery outcomes."
news.stv.tv/scotland/dru...
“The impact is felt across the whole prison environment – on people in custody, staff safety, families, and recovery outcomes."
news.stv.tv/scotland/dru...
The Report of the Independent Review of Fatal Accident Inquiries relating to deaths in prison and police custody, conducted by Sheriff Principal Ian Abercrombie KC, now published.
It covers some substantial issues of #humanrights and issues affecting bereaved families.
www.gov.scot/publications...
It covers some substantial issues of #humanrights and issues affecting bereaved families.
www.gov.scot/publications...
Report of the 2025 Independent Review of Fatal Accident Inquiries relating to deaths in custody in Scotland
Report of the Independent Review of Fatal Accident Inquiries relating to deaths in prison and police custody, conducted in 2025 by Ian Abercrombie KC.
www.gov.scot
January 15, 2026 at 12:51 PM
The Report of the Independent Review of Fatal Accident Inquiries relating to deaths in prison and police custody, conducted by Sheriff Principal Ian Abercrombie KC, now published.
It covers some substantial issues of #humanrights and issues affecting bereaved families.
www.gov.scot/publications...
It covers some substantial issues of #humanrights and issues affecting bereaved families.
www.gov.scot/publications...
Some UK Government U-turns are to be welcomed.
Their (now ditched) plan to publish the names and photographs of people doing unpaid work as part of their community sentence was as deeply problematic as the quotes in this piece suggest
#Probation #CrimSky #Criminology
insidetime.org/newsround/go...
Their (now ditched) plan to publish the names and photographs of people doing unpaid work as part of their community sentence was as deeply problematic as the quotes in this piece suggest
#Probation #CrimSky #Criminology
insidetime.org/newsround/go...
Government U-turns on plans to ‘name and shame’ people doing unpaid work
The Government has abandoned a controversial plan to publish the names and photos of people sentenced to do unpaid work in the community. The proposal would have seen people convicted of minor crim…
insidetime.org
January 14, 2026 at 4:17 PM
Some UK Government U-turns are to be welcomed.
Their (now ditched) plan to publish the names and photographs of people doing unpaid work as part of their community sentence was as deeply problematic as the quotes in this piece suggest
#Probation #CrimSky #Criminology
insidetime.org/newsround/go...
Their (now ditched) plan to publish the names and photographs of people doing unpaid work as part of their community sentence was as deeply problematic as the quotes in this piece suggest
#Probation #CrimSky #Criminology
insidetime.org/newsround/go...
💷 Scottish Budget – Justice headline figures in tables 👇
⤴️ More money for prisons.
⛔️ No change in Justice Social Work funding.
⤵️ Less funding for #Justice third sector?
Expecting this budget may possibly evoke mixed feelings across Scottish Justice, depending on how people & services are affected.
⤴️ More money for prisons.
⛔️ No change in Justice Social Work funding.
⤵️ Less funding for #Justice third sector?
Expecting this budget may possibly evoke mixed feelings across Scottish Justice, depending on how people & services are affected.
January 13, 2026 at 3:56 PM
💷 Scottish Budget – Justice headline figures in tables 👇
⤴️ More money for prisons.
⛔️ No change in Justice Social Work funding.
⤵️ Less funding for #Justice third sector?
Expecting this budget may possibly evoke mixed feelings across Scottish Justice, depending on how people & services are affected.
⤴️ More money for prisons.
⛔️ No change in Justice Social Work funding.
⤵️ Less funding for #Justice third sector?
Expecting this budget may possibly evoke mixed feelings across Scottish Justice, depending on how people & services are affected.
✨️🎓 Funded PhD studentship in #Criminology at University of Glasgow 🏴, with wonderful PhD supervisors (@fergusmcneill.bsky.social)
as part of a brilliant European comparative study on rehabilitation & reintegration.
🔗 for details of this #PhD #scholarship and to apply:
www.gla.ac.uk/colleges/soc...
as part of a brilliant European comparative study on rehabilitation & reintegration.
🔗 for details of this #PhD #scholarship and to apply:
www.gla.ac.uk/colleges/soc...
January 12, 2026 at 7:39 PM
✨️🎓 Funded PhD studentship in #Criminology at University of Glasgow 🏴, with wonderful PhD supervisors (@fergusmcneill.bsky.social)
as part of a brilliant European comparative study on rehabilitation & reintegration.
🔗 for details of this #PhD #scholarship and to apply:
www.gla.ac.uk/colleges/soc...
as part of a brilliant European comparative study on rehabilitation & reintegration.
🔗 for details of this #PhD #scholarship and to apply:
www.gla.ac.uk/colleges/soc...