The Howard League for Penal Reform is a registered charity in the United Kingdom. It is the oldest penal reform organisation in the world, named after John Howard. It was founded as the Howard Association in 1866 and changed its name in 1921, following a merger with the Penal Reform League. The charity focuses on penal reform in England and Wales. The Howard League is independent of the United Kingdom government and is funded by voluntary donations and membership donations. The charity also receives funding from the Legal Services Commission, as it holds Legal Aid contracts in order to perform its work with young people in custody. The Howard League's Chief Executive is Frances Crook, who joined the charity as Director in 1986. The Howard League Centre for Penal Reform, the charity's headquarters since 2000, was officially opened by Betty Boothroyd in November 2001. The Centre is located in north London.
History
In 1921, the Howard Association merged with the Penal Reform League to become the Howard League for Penal Reform. The Penal Reform League had been founded in 1907 with Arthur St John as Secretary. The new organisation was led by Margery Fry, who had been Secretary of the Penal Reform League since 1918. Fry was succeeded by Cicely Craven as honorary secretary of the Howard League in 1926. The Howard League played a key role in campaigning for the abolition of capital punishment; advocated for the founding of the National Probation Service; and co-founded the Prisoners' Advice Service. The charity also successfully campaigned for the introduction of the victims' compensation scheme. Historically-related organisations operate in a number of other commonwealth countries including the John Howard Society of Canada and the New Zealand Howard League of which the Howard League for Penal Reform Canterbury is a part.
Campaigns
The Howard League campaigns for a society with less crime, safer communities and fewer people in prison. Its high-profile campaign successes include working with police to reduce the number of arrests of children; overturning restrictions on sending books to prisoners; and securing a suspension of the criminal courts charge. The charity has held inquiries to examine a variety of issues relating to the criminal justice system, including suicides in prison; sexual health in prison; and the imprisonment of former armed services personnel.
Child arrests
The Howard League campaigns for a reduction in the number of arrests of children in England and Wales. Data published by the charity in 2016 showed that the number of arrests of children had fallen by 59 per cent in six years. The Howard League's Chief Executive, Frances Crook, said that the fall could be attributed to better use of resources, removing national targets, improving staff training, and support from communities.
The Howard League campaigned against the criminal courts charge, which required defendants who were convicted of a crime to pay fees ranging from £150 to £1,200 towards the cost of their case. When the charge was suspended by the then Justice Secretary Michael Gove in December 2015, Howard League Chief Executive Frances Crook called the decision a "victory for justice".
Legal work
The Howard League has a legal team that helps children and young people in the criminal justice system. It provides a free and confidential advice line for prisoners under the age of 21. The legal team also brings cases and conducts participation work to help shape the law and empower children to use their rights.
Real work in prison
The Howard League set up a graphic design studio called Barbed in HM Prison Coldingley in 2005. The Howard League ran the business until it ceased trading in 2008. The charity later set up a Centre of Excellence to advise government and the private sector on how to implement real work for prisoners. The charity works with prisons, MPs, select committees, financial institutions and business leaders.
Community Awards
The Howard League runs an annual Community Awards competition to recognise successful community projects that encourage desistance from crime.
Governance
The Howard League's board of trustees is chaired by Eoin McLennan-Murray, a former prison governor who was appointed in November 2016. The previous Chair was Sue Wade, former deputy chief probation officer and youth justice manager in Hampshire. Former presidents of the Howard League include Lord Carlile QC and playwright Sir John Mortimer CBE QC.
