About Prison Reform Trust
The Prison Reform Trust (PRT) is an independent UK charity working to create a just, humane and effective criminal justice system. They work to reduce imprisonment, improve conditions for people in prison, support prisoners and their families, and promote equality and human rights throughout the justice system. Through research, policy advocacy, offering an advice service for people in prison, developing prisoner and practitioner engagement, they influence decision-makers and raise awareness of the current issues affecting people in prison, their families and communities.
Prison Reform Trust's Challenges
Prisons in England and Wales are experiencing significant pressures, including overcrowding, increasing prison numbers, and increasing demand for support services. Many people in prison face multiple and complex needs. PRT is an independent charity that does not accept government funding so they can be independent. As such PRT rely on voluntary donations, grants and charitable support to continue their research, advocacy and direct advice and information services at a time when reform is urgently needed. The fundraising climate is incredibly challenging at present and they are working to diversify their income streams to adapt. Any donation, big or small, would be greatly appreciated and will help us improve outcomes for people living in our prisons.
Prison Reform Trust's Achievements
PRT is an independent UK charity that is focused on its mission to create a fair, humane & effective justice system. PRT does this by working collaboratively, critically and in a solution-oriented way with the system it seeks to influence. It uses evidence generated from diverse sources to provide independent, reliable and accessible information to both the people working within the justice system and those impacted by it. PRT strives to innovate and lead the charity sector by engagement with practitioners and prisoners so that we benefit and grow through knowledge exchange.
PRT has a strong track record of achieving change in policy and practice. PRT’s approach to influencing is founded on being a critical friend to government – not being afraid to speak truth to power but also being willing to work alongside ministers and officials to achieve reform. PRT sits on a number of government advisory panels and is regularly called upon to provide evidence to select committee inquiries and statutory consultations.
Over the last year, PRT has continued to influence policy, support people affected by imprisonment, and drive positive change across the justice system. They successfully secured improvements to legislation affecting people serving Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences and supported new laws preventing prisons from being used as places of safety for people experiencing acute mental health crises.
Their work on women’s imprisonment has highlighted the barriers facing women in the criminal justice system and promoted community-based alternatives to custody. We also delivered leadership programmes in prisons, resulting in 15 improvement projects designed to make prisons safer, fairer and more purposeful.
Through their Advice & Information service, they responded to almost 10,000 enquiries from people in prison and their families. Their Building Futures programme engaged more than 900 people with lived experience of long-term imprisonment, helping to ensure their voices shape policy and practice.
They celebrated positive contributions made by people in prison through their Hope and Fulfilment Awards, published influential research and briefings on key issues affecting the prison system, and provided expert evidence to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry on the impact of the pandemic in prisons. PRT have also continued developing projects focused on supporting children with a parent in prison through child impact assessments, and promoting neuroinclusive approaches within prisons.
The Prison Reform Trust
Donate to The Prison Reform Trust, or check out their website & social media channels below!