1981 Independent UK charity. Create humane and effective penal system
Inform and influence public debate on prison conditions and the treatment of prisoners amidst concerns about a projected prison population 48,000 by 1984
England and Wales now exceeding 82,00 and projected to rise to 86,4000 by 2023
Few organisations willing and equipped to hold the state to account for its treatment for vulnerable people in prison
Prison Reform Trust - Strengths
Reducing unecessary imprisonment and promoting community solutions to crime
Improving treatment and conditions for prisoners and their families
Promoting equity and human rights in the justice system
Aims to reduce imprisonment and improve conditions for prisoners and their families. Influencing Parliament, Government and officials towards reform
Howard League for Penal Reform - Strengths
National charity working for less crime, safe communities and fewer people in prison
Work with parliament and media, with criminal justice professionals, students and members of the public, influencing debate and forcing through meaningful change to create safer communities
Howard League for Penal Reform - Strengths
Transforming prisons, reducing child arrests, promoting the real work in custody. Legal service for children and young people in custody
Shape the law for children and young people
Entirety independent of government and is funded by voluntary decision and membership subscriptions
Howard League for Penal Reform - Strengths
2010, launched its programme to reduce child arrests, which has helped to reduce child arrests to 71,885 in 2019, a massive reduction from 245,763 in 2010
Every police in England and Wales has reduced the number of child arrests between 2010 and 2019, with 18 forces achieving reductions of 75% or more
2019 saw a concerning creep upwards in 2022 forces, resulting in a small national for the first time since 2020
Prison Reform Trust - Weaknesses
Few organisations willing and equipped to hold the state to account for its treatment of vulnerable people in prison
Prison population in England and Wales exceeding 82,000 and projected to rise to 86,400 by 2023
Howard League for Penal Reform - Weaknesses
Funded by voluntary donations and membership subscriptions
Majority of forces continue to see reductions or are maintaining the low numbers achieved