Join us

The Howard League for Penal Reform needs you as a member!

We need more members to give greater strength to our campaigns and help us create a mass movement for change. By becoming a member you will give us a bigger voice and give vital financial support to our work for a less costly and more effective criminal justice system.

We cannot achieve real and lasting change without your help. Please join us today by selecting your membership category below.

Membership categories

Individual rate - £42.00 per year/£3.50 per month

Retired/Unwaged rate - £18.00 per year/£2.00 per month

Student rate - £18.00 per year/£2.00 per month

Local group affiliation rate - £70.00 per year

National group affiliation rate - £400.00 per year

Overseas membership - £84.00/£36.00 per year

Family rate - £60.00 per year/£5.00 per month

Life membership - £600.00 one-off payment

Prisoners and families - Free

Member testimonials

Below are just some of the reasons why people have joined the Howard League for Penal Reform.

“I joined because I think that our penal system is ineffective and the Howard League offers the most progressive ideas and loudest voice for change.” – David Lane

"I joined to help support the free telephone helpline for children and young people in custody." - Peter Adams

“I support the Howard League because I think prisons need to be humane places – I am a magistrate.” - Mr R P Wells

“I joined because I believe the prison system needs reform. I work with students who are studying to be solicitors or barristers, and I want them to know about the Howard League and to join up and be active.” – Sara Chandler

“I joined because I strongly believe in what the League stands for and wish to support its work.” – Francois Josserand

“I work in the criminal justice sector and I think it's important to constantly question whether the way we do things is right and just; are we delivering social justice as well as criminal justice? Are we helping to build a better place to live; reducing the number of victims through a more effective approach to crime and justice? I think it's vital to have independent scrutiny and advice on these issues.” – Becci Seaborne

Renewing your membership

If you want to renew an existing membership, please follow the same process as new members joining. We will know that you are renewing your membership.

We will remind you when your membership is due for renewal, but it is easier to set up a Direct Debit (monthly, quarterly or annual) as this means your membership is automatically renewed.

It's really important to us that you renew your membership. We are trying to reach 10,000 members and every member counts.

Why pay by Direct Debit?

Direct Debit is our preferred method of payment because:

It's cheaper for us to process
It allows you to be more flexible and spread the cost of your membership over the year
It means you won't need to renew your membership in future

More information about Direct Debit

Upgrade your membership

You can upgrade from a student or unwaged membership to a full rate membership, or increase your regular donation to give that extra bit of support to our work.

Change of circumstances

We want to ensure that everyone can join the Howard League as a member, and continue their membership. If your circumstances have changed but you still want to renew, please don't hesitate to contact the membership team on 020 7249 7373. For a list of our different membership rates please scroll back to the top of the page.

Gift membership

You can buy Howard League membership as a gift for someone else. Why not give something different this year?

Members' area

We have a members' area designed specifically for our members where you can take part in a monthly competition, see who our Member of the Month is, check our Action of the Week, and much more.