Online publications
The Howard League's online publications can be downloaded for free. This online resource is available after completing a simple registration form. Once you register, you can download pdf copies of our free online reports.
No Winners: The reality of short term prison sentences – Summary
A summary of the key findings from the Howard League’s research into the daily reality of those serving short prison sentences and those working with them.
Business behind bars: Making real work in prison real
The Howard League has pioneered the concept of real work for prisoners for many years and is the only organisation that has ever run a real business inside prison. The Howard League's implementation plan for real work in prison contained in this paper is based on years of research and the benefit of practical experience. It is free to implement, generates income and is socially progressive.
Leaving Forces Life: The issue of transition
The second briefing paper of the Howard League inquiry into formed armed service personnel in prison, which aims to discover why some veterans find themselves caught up in the criminal justice system. The report explores the issue of military resettlement process which is geared to assist individuals to make a successful transition back onto civilian life.
Leave No Veteran Behind. The Inquiry Into Former Armed Service Personnel in Prison visits the United States of America
This paper examines the American experience of the issue and its response to it, following a visit to the US by the Howard League for Penal Reform inquiry into former armed service personnel in prison.
Barbed: what happened next? Follow up story of employees of a prison social enterprise
This report follows up on the story of the world's first social enterprise based inside a prison, analysing what happened to those prisoners who were employed in this pilot of real work in prison.
Access to Justice Denied: Young Adults in Prison
This report by the Howard League for Penal Reform for the Transition to Adulthood (T2A) has found that young adults aged between 18 and 21 in prison are an abandoned generation and reveals considerable unmet legal need and a lack of awareness of rights.
Youth justice in Wales: Thinking beyond the prison bars
In the event that powers over youth justice are devolved, the focus on the “secure estate” should not obscure the wider discussion that needs to be had about how Welsh children are treated in the youth justice system. This report recommends that youth justice should be devolved to the Welsh Assembly in order better to protect vulnerable children.
Turnkeys or professionals
This report suggest that a radical and fundamental review of the role of the prison officer is needed that questions their role, purpose, professional status and points to a new future that serves the public.
Do Better Do Less: The report of the Commission on English Prisons Today
This final report of the Commission on English Prisons Today is the product of a two-year long inquiry commissioned by the Howard League for Penal Reform. It takes a radical look at the purpose and limits of a penal system and is a road-map for long term and fundamental reform.
To devolve or not to devolve? The pros and cons of making local authorities financially responsible for children in penal custody
This briefing paper considers the pros and cons of devolving youth custody budgets and asks a fundamental question: to what extent can altering the financial arrangements effect real change for the better or is this in reality a problem of law, policy and attitudes?
Custody panels: Impact of a pilot scheme on juvenile sentencing rates
This report reviews the work of a pilot initiative in Wessex, a custody panel with representatives of the Youth Offending Team, Children’s Services and the voluntary sector set up to look at the cases of all children under 18 sentenced to custody in North Hampshire.
Read a summary and download the report
Prison work and social enterprise: the story of Barbed
This independent evaluation relates the history of Barbed, a unique social enterprise set up by the Howard League inside Coldingley prison. It explores the motivations and the philosophy behind the intitiative before examining the operational issues and obstacles encountered along the way.
Punishing Children. A Survey of criminal responsibility and approaches across Europe
This report examines and compares different youth justice systems across Europe. It contrasts the welfare based approach across Europe with the UK where punishment is the centre of the response to children in trouble with the law.
High Security Prisons: Prisoner Perspectives.
Prison Information Bulletin 4
This bulletin explores the high security estate in England and Wales. It looks at eight prisons that make up this part of the prison estate and provides a flavour of life in those prisons. (2008)
Indeterminate Sentences for Public Protection.
Prison Information Bulletin 3
Drawing on a range of sources, including public documents and interviews, this report illustrates that the Indeterminate Sentence for Public Protection (IPP) has been ill-conceived and is ultimately flawed.
Violence Against Children in Conflict with the Law
A study on indicators and data collection in Belgium, England and Wales, France and the Netherlands. The study was produced by the Howard League for Penal Reform and Defence for Children International.
The Carlile Inquiry
An independent inquiry by Lord Carlile of Berriew QC into physical restraint, solitary confinement and forcible strip searching of children in prisons, secure training centres and local authority secure children's homes.
Read a summary and download the report
