giving young women a voice

Girls and young women are being asked to write about their major concerns and the issues that could prevent them achieving their potential - which may result in action to improve the lives of millions of people.

The influential National Council of Women is holding a national competition asking women under 30: If you could influence Government to take some action to improve the lives of women, what would it be?

Click here to find out more

community justice for women

Thousands of vulnerable women who have committed non-violent offences are unnecessarily sent to prison each year in England and Wales. Just before Christmas, the House of Lords amended the Crime and Courts Bill to ensure that appropriate community-based options for women should be provided across England and Wales. Unfortunately, the amendment was struck out in the House of Commons, on 5 February.

Listen to PRT's director, Juliet Lyon and Joy Doal of the Anawim women's centre, talking on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour about the vital role community sentences have in reducing women's reoffending.

Prison and disability

Juliet Lyon, director of the Prison Reform Trust, was a guest on BBC Radio 4’s You and Yours programme on Monday 20 August talking about the treatment of people with disabilities and social care needs in prison. Listen to the programme by clicking this link.

People want offenders to make amends, poll reveals

ICM survey results offer massive vote of support for community payback and restorative justice.

The results of an ICM telephone poll of 1,000 members of the public, conducted one month after the riots in England, show overwhelming popular support for constructive ways in which offenders can make amends to victims for the harm they have caused.

Read more and by clicking this link

smartjustice for women

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Soroptimists call on MPs and Peers to reduce women’s imprisonment

25/04/2013 07:16:00

Soroptimist (UK), in partnership with the Prison Reform Trust, will today (Thursday 25 April 2013) launch an action pack at a reception in the House of Commons to support the Soroptimists’ initiative to reduce women’s imprisonment in the UK.

Click this link to find out more and download the pack

Adult social care can cut crime and save taxpayers money

18/04/2013 10:30:00

Adult social care services have a vital, and often overlooked, role in supporting the large number of people with multiple needs who offend to desist from crime, according to a new joint briefing by the Prison Reform Trust, the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS), the Centre for Mental Health and Revolving Doors Agency.

Click this link to read more and download the report

Government’s commitment to reform women’s justice welcomed but should be reinforced by law

23/03/2013 15:31:00

Commenting on the Justice Minister Helen Grant’s announcement in Parliament today of measures to provide a greater focus on the support and rehabilitation of female offenders, Juliet Lyon, director of the Prison Reform Trust, said:

The Minister’s announcement should be a catalyst for coordinated cross-government action to reduce women’s prison numbers. Over 10,000 women were sent to prison every year, most to serve short sentences for non-violent crimes. Many women in prison have themselves been the victims of serious crime, including domestic violence, sexual abuse and rape. Mental health problems, drug and alcohol addiction and self-harm are particularly common among women in prison. Each year, more than 17,000 children are separated from their mothers by imprisonment.

Privatisation will not rehabilitate our prisons

21/02/2013 11:24:00

A new briefing by the free market thinktank, Reform, sets out to reignite the debate about the role of the private sector in our prisons.

Read our response to the report's findings here.

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featured publication

Prepared by Jenny Talbot for frontline staff in the criminal justice system and the NHS, Fair Access to Justice? explains how people with a learning disability who have to appear in court are given extra support or 'special measures' to help them understand and cope with the process. The briefing states that vulnerable defendants should be legally entitled to the same support, in order to ensure they get a fair trial.

Talking Justice: Talking Sense

Care not Custody

Turning Young Lives Around