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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Mockery made of "innocent until proven guilty"

21/08/2012 13:33:00

Commenting on the HM Inspectorate of Prisons thematic review of remand prisoners, Juliet Lyon, director of the Prison Reform Trust, said:

People held on remand awaiting trial are innocent until proven guilty but the findings of this worrying review make a mockery of that principle. It’s clear that people remanded into custody are often held in worse conditions and receive less help and support than those convicted of a crime and serving a prison sentence.

Prisoners voting - Scoppola case judgment

28/05/2012 14:00:00

On Tuesday 22 May the European Court of Human Rights published their judgment in the case of Scoppola v. Italy (no 3). The Court has confimed the Hirst (no. 2) v. the United Kingdom judgment of October 2005 that a blanket ban on all serving prisoners losing voting rights is a breach of their human rights.

The future of probation

28/05/2012 12:24:00

Prison Reform Trust's company secretary Geoff Dobson has written an article on the future of probation, originally published in the Guardian's Society section on Wednesday 23 May 2012.

Below is his article in full, and you can read the Guardian article here

What does a modern effective Probation Service look like? The closing date for two important Ministry of Justice consultations will be reached on 22 June. Proposals to reform community sentences have received publicity to date, not least because of eye catching suggestions to extend the use of electronic monitoring to track offenders and to introduce sobriety bracelets. Within that report is an important section on restorative justice, opening up the possibility for far greater use of this approach, both pre and post sentence.

Ministers outline steps to keeping “Care not custody” promise

24/04/2012 13:55:00

The Health Secretary Andrew Lansley and the Justice Minister Crispin Blunt have outlined the progress made towards diverting people with mental health needs from the justice system into treatment and care at a Westminster reception on 23 April.

The ministers detailed steps taken towards the creation of a national liaison and diversion service for vulnerable offenders by 2014, backed by Department of Health investment of £50 million towards its development and evaluation.

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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