Drawing on concerns raised with our advice and information service, prisoners’ writing competition submissions and the findings of our applied research studies, PRT is able to shine a clear light on life in prison as well as to illuminate examples of good practice and routes to reform. Currently our improving regimes and conditions programme encompasses performance monitoring; local prison conditions; education; health; suicide prevention and membership of the ministerial roundtable on prison suicides; as well as work with individual prisons.

Raising awareness
Press and parliamentary monitors indicate PRT’s success in increasing levels of debate on prison conditions and raising critical awareness of the harm done by prison overcrowding. In 2005, following submissions by PRT and others, the Home Affairs Select Committee convened a special meeting to consider prison overcrowding and deaths in custody to which we provided oral evidence. Quarterly meetings with Prisons Ministers enable PRT to air concerns about treatment, conditions and policy matters and seek solutions.

Improving education and health
PRT’s publication in 2003 of ‘Time to Learn’, a study of prisoners’ education from the prisoners’ perspective, provided the backbone for the DfES curriculum review. In 2004 PRT gave written and oral evidence to the Education Select Committee’s inquiry into prison education. Last year we worked with the committee’s chair in a roundtable convened to progress the inquiry findings and recommendations. Our current work on learning difficulty and disability will enable PRT to maintain focus on improving prison education. PRT has helped to shape health policy, as the NHS assumes responsibility for prison health. In particular, ‘Troubled Inside’, our extensive work on mental health in prison, has made an important contribution recognised by the Department of Health and the Home Office. In 2005, working in partnership with NAT, the National Aids Trust, PRT produced a report on HIV and hepatitis in prison. Recommendations drawn from this UK-wide survey of prison healthcare are being used to inform new policy and practice. NAT has now convened an expert group to develop a professional standards framework.

Influencing policy and practice
PRT is able to demonstrate policy impact. Too often, though, gaps still remain between policy and practical implementation. PRT’s briefing on the need for alcohol addiction treatment led the Prison Service to adopt an alcohol policy now held up by lack of resources. Publication of ‘A Lost Generation’, and PRT’s ongoing work on regimes for 18-20 year olds in prison, have prompted NOMS to set up an advisory group but no reforms as yet. Consistent lobbying on conditions for, and treatment of, remand prisoners has prompted a call by the Home Affairs Select Committee for an independent review of bail and remand. Publication of ‘Lacking Conviction’ has led directly to improved bail information and support in women’s prisons with good results.