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We receive more than 100 calls per week from children and young people in prison who need our help. Our successful legal work has transformed law, policy and practice, but it could not carry on without the generous support of our members. Please add your voice.
Join TodayLess crime
We analyse the evidence and promote lasting solutions to crime. Our legal work has improved the law and secured support for young people when they are released from custody.
What we do →Safer communities
We ensure that children in trouble with the law are kept safe and not made the adult criminals of tomorrow. Thanks to our work with the police, the number of child arrests fell by 68% between 2010 and 2017.
What we have achieved →Fewer people in prison
We campaign to reduce the prison population and to change prisons. From challenging restrictions on prisoners reading books to ground-breaking research on sex behind bars, the Howard League is the leading voice on what should happen inside prisons.
Why the system is broken →This week there are 83,514 people in prisons and young offender institutions in England and Wales.
Latest posts from Frances Crook
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17 Oct 2019
‘Law-and-order’ proposals in the Queen’s Speech are performative politics at their most risible
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14 Oct 2019
There is always money for locking up children, but none to clean up the mess afterwards
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1 Oct 2019
It is just as irresponsible to promote short prison sentences as it is to oppose vaccination
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26 Sep 2019
Toilets in prisons
Find out more about our work
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Commission on Crime and Problem Gambling
The Commission will lead in developing our understanding of, and ability to respond to, the links between problem gambling and crime.
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The 3 Rs of Prison Reform
Find out more about our campaign to reduce prison numbers by reforming the '3 Rs' - rules, recall and release.
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Briefings and submissions
We are often consulted when policy-makers need expert advice. Read our briefings and submissions.
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Crime, Justice and Social Harms
Howard League International Conference 2020 - Call for papers
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Howard League Community Awards 2019
Every year, the Howard League presents awards to successful community projects that help turn lives around and reduce crime.
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Children in residential care
Children in children's homes are more likely to be criminalised than other children. Our programme looks into the reasons why, and explores how change could be achieved.
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Legal advice
Our lawyers provide expert legal advice to anyone aged under 21 in prison.
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Recommendations for the government
We have identified five broad areas that ministers must address to reduce crime and make communities safer.