charities and pressure groups

• both charities and pressure groups play an important role in the CJS. they are self-funded which means they rely on support from beneficiaries. non-profit organisations.
• a charity may be predominately involved in fundraising or providing services for people. they may charge for their services or provide them for free.

  e.g. 'repurpose' is a charity in Swindon that helps offenders to find a new purpose in life outside of crime, and looks for placements in training and employment for people leaving prison, or offers mentoring and counselling.
• a pressure group is an organisation that tries to influence and effect on behalf of their cause.

  e.g. 'unlock' is a pressure group that campaigns for change in the way prisoners are treated when they leave prison and puts pressure on the government to bring about changes in law, such as removing the ability of employers to ask about criminal records on application forms ('ban the box' campaign)
• NACRO- philosophy, aims, objections

  social justice charity seeking to change lives, strengthen communities and prevent crime

  aims to overcome the stereotype of ex-prisoners

  • housing - houses over 3,000 tenants in its own properties
  • education - in 2018, 4,900 people studied through NACROs services
  • advice - provides support and advice about employment, education and accommodation
  • outreach projects - keep young people from offending
• NACRO - funding


  has an income of around £50 million a year.

  get income from public donations, government grants, contracts providing services for ex-offenders and others

  in 2021-22 - around £36.5 million from government contracts and £150k in government grants
• NACRO - working practices

  campaign to change laws and policies affecting ex-offenders e.g. reform the rehabilitation of offenders act 1974 and criminal records check

  supports 'ban the box' campaign (unlock) which allows those with convictions to complete for jobs by removing the tick box on criminal convictions that appear on many job applications
• NACRO - types of criminality and offender


  works with a range of ex-offenders. as well as with young people at risk of offending
• NACRO - national and local reach


  national organisation with local authorities and projects around some parts of England and Wales.

  large full-time staff as well as unpaid volunteers
• PRT


  prison reform trust
• PRT - philosophy, aims, objectives

  main objectives -

  • reduce unnecessary imprisonment and promote community solutions to crime
  • improve treatment and conditions for prisoners and their families
  • promote equality and human rights in the criminal justice system
• PRT - funding


  does not seek or accept government funding

  voluntary donations

  • donations - £345.9k
  • investments - £4.34t
  • charity activities - £1.67m
  • other - £31.28k
• PRT - working practices

  work with prisoners and families and aid programme to help build futures, promotes prisoner leadership.

  look at impact on children with parents in CJS

  work alongside government agencies
• PRT - types off criminality and offender

  men and women in prison and ex-prison

  vulnerable offenders
• PRT - national and local reach

  it is a independent UK charity