Briefings and submissions
We offer advice to politicians, policy-makers and senior practitioners about prisons and the wider criminal justice system. We were one of the first organisations to be given consultative status from both the United Nations and the Council of Europe.
- 2 February 2024
Briefing for House of Commons second reading debate on the Joint Enterprise (Significant Contribution) Private Members’ Bill - 24 January 2023
Victims and Prisoners Bill, House of Lords – Committee Stage Briefing - 18 December 2023
Briefing for House of Lords second reading debate on the Victims and Prisoners Bill - 7 December 2023
Submissions to the Ministry of Justice consultation on the Youth Justice Charter - 6 December 2023
Briefing for second reading debate on the Sentencing Bill - 4 December 2023
Briefing for report stage of the Victims and Prisoners Bill – Part III amendments - 28 November 2023
Submission to the Sentencing Council consultation on miscellaneous amendments to sentencing guidelines - 21 November 2023
Submission to the London Assembly Health Committee on health impacts of gambling in London - 13 November 2023
Submission to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture’s call for input on current issues and good practice in prison management - 26 October 2023
Submission to the Justice Committee inquiry into the future prison population and estate capacity - 15 May 2023
Briefing for second reading of the Victims and Prisoners Bill - 27 April 2023
Briefing for Westminster Hall debate on IPP sentences - 15 March 2023
Submission to the Labour Policy Forum consultation - 6 January 2023
Submission to the Justice Committee inquiry on the prison operational workforce - 18 October 2022
Response to the Independent Advisory Panel on Deaths in Custody consultation on suicide prevention - 16 October 2022
Submission to the Joint Committee on the draft Mental Health Bill - 22 September 2022
Submission to the Welsh Parliament’s Equality and Social Justice Committee inquiry on women’s experiences - 22 July 2022
Submission to the SEND review consultation - 20 July 2022
Submission to the Justice Committee inquiry on public opinion and understanding of sentencing - 7 July 2022
Response to the mental health and wellbeing plan discussion paper - 23 May 2022
Submission to the Public Accounts Committee inquiry on secure training centres and secure schools - 25 April 2022
Submission to the House of Lords Children and Families Act 2014 Committee - 31 March 2022
Submission to the Universal Periodic Review - 8 March 2022
Response to the consultation on proposals to reform the Human Rights Act 1998 - 4 February 2022
Response to the consultation on the Prisons Strategy White Paper - 8 January 2022
Response to NPCC consultation on Outcome 22 guidance - January 2022
Response to the HMPPS Young Adults Custodial Strategy 2021-22 - January 2022
Response to the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee Inquiry into the Coronavirus Act two years on - December 2021
Response to NICE consultation on guideline scope for gambling: identification, diagnosis and management - November 2021
Howard League for Penal Reform’s submission to the Commission on Young Lives’ Call for Evidence - 19 November 2021
Howard League for Penal Reform’s response to the Justice Committee’s Call for Evidence about Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences - October 2021
Howard League for Penal Reform’s briefing on the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill: Amendments 208G and 208H on IPP sentences - September 2021
Howard League for Penal Reform’s response to the Youth Custody Service’s Policy Framework on Behaviour Management and Physical Restraint - September 2021
Howard League for Penal Reform’s response to the Draft Framework on Early and Late Release for Detention and Training Orders - 14 September 2021
The Howard League for Penal Reform submission to the consultation on the Home Office Domestic Abuse Act draft statutory guidance - 8 September 2021
Howard League for Penal Reform submission to the College of Policing consultation on the scope of the review of the Code of Ethics - September 2021
Howard League for Penal Reform’s response to the Sentencing Council’s consultation on its burglary offences guideline - July 2021
Howard League for Penal Reform’s response to the Law Commission’s 14th Programme of Law Reform - July 2021
Howard League for Penal Reform’s response to the Draft Framework on Managing Separation in the Children and Young People Secure Estate - June 2021
Howard League for Penal Reform submission to the Justice Select Committee inquiry into women in prison - June 2021
Howard League for Penal Reform’s submission to the Department of Health Women’s Health Strategy consultation - May 2021
Howard League for Penal Reform’s committee stage briefing on the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill - 27 May 2021
Howard League for Penal Reform’s response to the Law Commission’s consultation on intimate image abuse - 27 May 2021
Howard League for Penal Reform’s response to the Draft Framework on Prisoners’ Property - 7 May 2021
Howard League for Penal Reform’s response to the Independent Review of Criminal Legal Aid’s Call for Evidence - 30 April 2021
Howard League for Penal Reform’s response to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation’s consultation on its inspection framework and programmes for 2021–2022 - 30 April 2021
Howard League for Penal Reform’s response to the government’s consultation on proposals for reforming judicial review - 21 April 2021
Howard League for Penal Reform’s response to the Department of Health and Social Care’s White Paper on reforming the Mental Health Act 1983 - 14 April 2021
Howard League for Penal Reform response to Competition and Markets Authority invitation to comment on children’s social care - 24 March 2021
Howard League for Penal Reform’s response to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons consultation on Expectations for leadership - March 2021
Howard League for Penal Reform’s response to the Independent Human Rights Act Review call for evidence - January 2021
Howard League for Penal Reform’s submission to the Education Committee’s Inquiry, Education: Are prisoners being left behind? - January 2021
Howard League for Penal Reform’s response to the Ministry of Justice’s call for evidence on neurodiversity in the criminal justice system - January 2021
Howard League for Penal Reform’s response to the Sentencing Council’s consultation on modern day slavery offences - 12 January 2021
Howard League Response to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons consultation on Expectations: Criteria for assessing the treatment of and conditions for those held in women’s prisons - 11 January 2021
- December 2020
Howard League for Penal Reform submission to the Ministry of Justice consultation on the parole system - November 2020
Howard League for Penal Reform’s submission to the Justice Committee’s Call for Evidence on the Future of Legal Aid - November 2020
Submission to the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities - 17 November 2020
Letter from Lucy Frazer QC MP on charitable status of secure schools - 9 November 2020
Letter to Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP in opposition to proposals to make running a prison for children a charitable activity - October 2020
Howard League for Penal Reform’s submission to the Independent Review of Administrative Law - October 2020
Howard League Response to the College of Policing Consultation on guidelines for recognising and responding to vulnerability related risk - October 2020
Howard League Response to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme Review 2020 - October 2020
Howard League for Penal Reform’s response to Youth Custody Service consultation on transition of young people from youth to adult custody policy framework - 12 October 2020
Letter to Rt Hon Rishi Sunak, Chancellor of the Exchequer - September 2020
Howard League for Penal Reform response to the Sentencing Council’s consultation: What next for the Sentencing Council? - 28 August 2020
Response to the Sentencing Council’s Drug Offences consultation - 28 August 2020
Response to the Scottish Sentencing Council’s consultation on sentencing young people - 30 June 2020
Submission to the Home Affairs Committee inquiry, The Macpherson Report: twenty-one years on - 29 June 2020
Letter to Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP on registering employed prisoners under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (“furlough scheme”) - 26 June 2020
Submission to the Public Accounts Committee for evidence session on Improving the prison estate - June 2020
Response to the HMPPS Consultation on the Use of Force Policy Framework - 16 June 2020
Letter to Max Hill QC, Director of Public Prosecutions on Covid-19 and prosecutions - 10 June 2020
Letter to the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales on Judicial decision-making concerning women in the criminal courts in light of the Coronavirus pandemic - 3 June 2020
Response to the Department for Education’s consultation on reforms to unregulated provision for children in care and care leavers - 2 June 2020
Response to the government’s Consultation on Police Powers: Pre-charge Bail - 28 May 2020
Submission to the Justice Committee for Evidence Session on Coronavirus: The impact on prison, probation and court systems in the youth justice system (2 June 2020) - 21 May 2020
A letter from the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Women in the Penal System to the Secretary of State for Justice, Robert Buckland, calling on the government to release more women from prison during the coronavirus pandemic and the response to the letter - 19 May 2020
Women in prison under Covid-19: Issues for charging, remand and sentence
Submission to the Justice Committee for Evidence Sessions with the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales (21/22 May 2020)
- 7 May 2020
Justice and fairness under Covid-19 restrictions briefing for the Justice Select Committee - April 2020
Response to the Sentencing Council’s Consultation on Changes to the Magistrates Court Sentencing Guidance and Explanatory Materials - 16 April 2020
Weekly briefing to the Justice Select Committee on Covid-19 and prisons in England and Wales - 8 April 2020
Weekly briefing to the Justice Select Committee on Covid-19 and prisons in England and Wales - 8 April 2020
Letter to Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice on Covid-19 and prisons: the need for urgent further action - 2 April 2020
Weekly briefing to the Justice Select Committee on Covid-19 and prisons in England and Wales - 2 April 2020
Report by Professor Richard Coker, Emeritus Professor of Public Health at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, on Covid-19 and prisons in England and Wales - 1 April 2020
Letter to Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, on Covid-19 - 27 March 2020
Letter on judicial decision making concerning children in the criminal courts in light of the Coronavirus pandemic - 11 March 2020
Letter to Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, asking for a statement about what precautions he is taking on coronavirus in prisons - January 2020
Submission to the United Nations Human Rights Committee: list of issues with regard to the UK examination under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights - December 2019
Submission to the Police Foundation Call for Evidence for the Strategic Review of Policing in England and Wales - October 2019
Joint submission by Howard League for Penal Reform and Youth Justice Legal Centre, part of Just for Kids Law, to the CPS on its revised guidance for cases concerning children - October 2019
Submission to the Justice Committee’s inquiry into children and young people in custody - October 2019
Submission to the Justice Committee’s ageing prison population inquiry - July 2019
Response to NHS England and NHS Improvement consultation on transfer and remission of adult prisoners under the Mental Health Act 1983 good practice guidance 2019 - 9 July 2019
Response to Sentencing Council’s consultation on overarching principles for sentencing offenders with mental health conditions or disorders - 6 June 2019
Howard League for Penal Reform’s response to the Sentencing Council’s consultation on expanded explanations in sentencing guidelines - 16 May 2019
Response to the government’s National Autism Strategy: ‘Think Autism’ - 8 May 2019
Response to call for evidence – Inquiry into out-of-area care placements for looked after children and young people - 7 May 2019
Submission to the Justice Committee’s prison governance inquiry - 12 March 2019
HMPPS consultation on release on temporary licence - 13 February 2019
HMPPS consultation on transition of young people from youth to adult custody policy framework - 28 January 2019
Ministry of Justice consultation on home detention curfew (HDC) - 14 January 2019
Submission to the UN Committee Against Torture for consideration at the 66th Session - 4 December 2018
NHS England’s refresh of the intercollegiate Healthcare Standards for Children and Young People in Secure Settings - 26 November 2018
Submission to the consultation on the draft national standards for youth justice - October 2018
Response to the LASPO post implementation review - 22 October 2018
Response to the Ministry of Justice consultation on the complaints policy - 18 October 2018
Second submission to JCHR inquiry on youth detention: solitary confinement and restraint - 1 October 2018
Response to the Ministry of Justice Consultation on Incentives and Earned Privileges (IEP) - 21 September 2018
Response to the Ministry of Justice consultation on ‘Strengthening probation, building confidence’ - 11 September 2018
Response to the Sentencing Council’s Consultation on general guidelines for sentencing offences - 23 August 2018
Response to the Ministry of Justice’s consultation on Part 39 Civil Procedure Rules: proposed changes - 16 August 2018
Howard League Evidence to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse – Fourth Witness Statement - 14 August 2018
Response to Ofsted’s consultation on proposed changes to joint inspections of secure training centres - 8 August 2018
Response to the Sentencing Council’s consultation on public order offences - 31 July 2018
Response to the Ministry of Justice consultation on ‘Reconsideration of Parole Board decisions: creating a new and open system’ - 30 July 2018
Response to the Ministry of Justice consultation on ‘Secure Schools: How to Apply Guide’ - 20 July 2018
Howard League Evidence to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse – Third Witness Statement - 5 July 2018
Howard League Evidence to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse – Second Witness Statement - 5 July 2018
Submission to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of prisons consultation on expectations for children’s YOIs - 4 June 2018
Submission to the Commission on Justice in Wales - 22 May 2018
Submission to the Joint Committee on Human Rights inquiry on Youth Detention: solitary confinement and restraint - 21 May 2018
Howard League for Penal Reform response to the Health and Social Care Committee’s inquiry on prison healthcare - 21 May 2018
Response to the Civil Society Strategy Engagement Exercise - 4 May 2018
Howard League Evidence to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse – First Witness Statement - 27 April 2018
The Sentencing Code (Disposals relating to children and young persons) consultation response by the Howard League for Penal Reform and Just for Kids LawYouth Justice Legal Centre - 19 February 2018
Response to the Welsh Affairs Committee’s Inquiry into prison provision in Wales - 31 January 2018
Submission to the draft Animal Welfare (Sentencing and Sentience) Bill 2018 - 26 January 2018
Response to the Law Commission’s consultation on the draft Sentencing Code - 16 January 2018
Response to the Education and Health Select Committees’ Inquiry to scrutinise the government’s green paper on transforming children and young people’s mental health provision - 10 January 2018
Response to the Justice Committee inquiry on the prison population in 2022 - 31 December 2017
Response to DfE consultation on working together to safeguard children - 22 December
Letter to Government legal department on pain inducing restraint during escorts to SCHs and STCs - 11 December 2017
Response to the DCLG consultation on the homelessness code of guidance for local authorities - 4 December 2017
Response to the Government’s consultation on corporate parenting, the local offer and personal adviser support - 10 October 2017
Response to the Sentencing Council consultation on manslaughter guidelines - 4 October 2017
Response to the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee inquiry on women offenders - 28 September 2017
Howard League response to the CPS consultation on legal guidance on secondary liability - 3 May 2017
Howard League response to London Assembly health committee investigation on mental health needs of prisoners - 16 May 2017
Analysis of deaths in custody in England and Wales 2016 - 20 March 2017
Howard League briefing ahead of the Second Reading of the Prisons and Courts Bill - 2 March 2017
Howard League consultation response to MOPAC’s police and crime plan - 25 January 2017
Response to the Sentencing Council’s consultation on breach guidelines - 5 January 2017
Response to the consultation on sentencing guidelines: bladed articles and offensive weapons - 3 August 2016
Response to the consultation on the sentencing guidelines specifically relating to children - 6 May 2016
Submission to the Sentencing Council’s consultation on the Reduction in Sentence for a Guilty Plea Guideline - 14 April 2016
Additional submission to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child on the UK government’s compliance with the UNCRC – response to the list of issues - 28 January 2016
Howard League Submission to Justice Committee inquiry on the role of the magistracy - 21 January 2016
Briefing for Lord Fowler, House of Lords Debate – Proposals for Prison Reform - 20 January 2016
Howard League briefing for Safety in Youth Custody Westminster Hall debate - 18 November 2015
Howard League’s evidence to the Independent Commission on Freedom of Information - 3 November 2015
The Howard League for Penal Reform’s response to the National Offender Management Service’s Amendment to Policy set out in PSO 1700 - 19 June 2015
Submission to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child on the UK government’s compliance with the UNCRC
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