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Howard League Blog

Informal comment from our Chief Executive, Andrea Coomber KC (Hon.), and other contributors.

  • 7 Jul 2025
    Observations from Howard League members in Lowdham Grange prison

    Lowdham Grange prison was once described as “among the most impressive category B training prisons in the system”. But a recent report by HM Inspectorate of Prisons reveals that this is now a jail in dire straits, with the lowest possible ratings for safety and respect.  Read more

  • 30 Jun 2025
    How will the sentencing review recommendations be turned into operational reality?

    Now that David Gauke’s sentencing review has delivered its recommendations, we expect legislation to be introduced any day. This legislation will start to fill in what is currently an incomplete picture, as we wait to understand precisely how the government will interpret the review’s recommendations and go about turning them into operational reality.  Read more

  • 30 May 2025
    Brenda McWilliams – A Huge Thank You

    The June 2025 issue of the Howard Journal of Crime and Justice is the final issue to have been put together by Brenda McWilliams, who is retiring from her post as Production Editor.  Read more

  • 19 May 2025
    Separation in Oakhill secure training centre

    We have issued legal proceedings in the High Court, because a secure training centre has been locking up children and young people alone in their rooms for longer than the law allows.  Read more

  • 30 Apr 2025
    Howard League IPP hotline nominated for award

    In November of last year, major changes were made to the way IPP licences can be terminated. IPP sentences are already complex and often hard to navigate, so the prospect of further changes caused a lot of concern for people in prison and their families, as well as professionals. Along with law firm Peters & Peters, …  Read more

  • 15 Nov 2024
    Reforms in the Mental Health Bill

    In a hugely welcome development, the new government has now published its own Mental Health Bill and this was introduced into the House of Lords last week. Meetings involving ministers and officials are now being held and the Howard League is pleased to be at the table as a range of important reforms are being discussed.   Read more

  • 1 Nov 2024
    A long-awaited day for many on IPP sentences

    Today, 1 November 2024, is a day that approximately 1,800 people serving the sentence of Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) have been waiting for. Changes introduced under the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024, the first of which have now come into effect, mean that, if it has been at least five years since your first release …  Read more

  • 25 Oct 2024
    We cannot build our way out of this crisis

    The prison system has made headlines again this week. Winchester became the third prison in four weeks to receive an Urgent Notification from HM Inspectorate of Prisons. The Times published a shocking investigation into WhatsApp messages shared by staff at Wandsworth. And TV crews reported live from outside jails as more than 1,000 people were freed under the emergency early release scheme in an attempt to ease overcrowding.  Read more

  • 4 Oct 2024
    A decade of decline in young offender institutions

    This week saw the publications of two reports on children in custody: a review of progress by HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) on the use of separation in young offender institutions (YOIs) and a joint report from HMIP and Ofsted on the declining quality of education. Both reports reiterated what the Howard League has been saying for many years – that prison is no place for a child.    Read more

  • 2 Oct 2024
    More calls for action from our members in prison

    Last week, we shared the thoughts of our members in prison on the day-to-day issues behind bars that the government ought to focus on. This blogpost looks at what their responses tell us about wider issues, including the work of the probation service, maintaining family ties, and sentencing, particularly sentences of imprisonment for public protection (IPP). It closes with some reflections on the need for reform of the entire criminal justice system.  Read more

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