Prisons is no place for a child. "Children in custody live in fear of being attacked and would be too scared to report bullying or victimisation, according to a survey carried out by inspectors." https://insidetime.org/newsround/jailed-children-live-in-fear-of-violence/

Jailed children live in fear of violence

Children in custody live in fear of being attacked and would be too scared to report bullying or victimisation, according to a survey carried out by inspectors. A review of the survey responses, pu…

insidetime.org

“Criminalising parents is unlikely to help children who need support, and putting them behind bars would only put further strain on a failing prison system that is already bursting at the seams.” - Andrew Neilson, Howard League. https://ow.ly/g7OT50ZTqgq

Parents of young offenders may face jail

A Government minister has threatened to jail the parents of young offenders, in a drive to ensure stronger discipline in family homes. Jake Richards, the Youth Justice Minister, told The Times that…

ow.ly

On 13 October, a second tranche of prisoners will be released. Watch this video to find out more about the changes introduced under the Sentencing Act 2026: https://howardleague.org/blog/early-release-and-the-progression-model-what-recent-changes-to-the-sentencing-act-now-mean/

We are on the hunt for a new lawyer to join our legal team. The chosen lawyer will help us advocate for more safety, dignity and equality in prisons, and work on our award-winning advice line for children and young people in prison. https://howardleague.org/about-us/vacancies/lawyer/

Don't miss tomorrow's SPOTLIGHTS event! After a tumultuous summer shaped by change in Downing Street, uncertainty over sentencing changes and a deepening overcrowding crisis, what does the prison system look like today? RSVP here: https://howardleague.org/events/spotlights-prisons-under-pressure/

Feeling unsafe and uncared for, children in prison are spending hours on end locked inside their cells. How will this help them to turn their lives around? Watch our video to find out more. https://www.instagram.com/p/DeJt0kFIl6v/

How big is the pressure on prison? Enormous. Our Head of Communications, Rob Preece, spoke to Sky News about the impact of overcrowding on rehabilitation. Watch the full clip here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loNNwQwLS0w&t=1s

The prison population in England and Wales has fallen for the first time since the end of June, as changes introduced under the Sentencing Act 2026 begin to take effect. Today, there are 86,779 people in prison – 720 fewer than this time last week. Find out more: https://ow.ly/cuHB50ZUpv8

Prisons like Millsike in East Yorkshire were supposed to be a solution to the capacity crisis. Watch our video to see how, instead, the prison has become part of the problem. https://www.instagram.com/p/DdWbqaoo2qF/

"Police have launched a criminal investigation into the management of a scandal-hit prison after five men died in nine months." A report by Amy-Clare Martin for the Independent: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/police-investigation-deaths-hmp-lowdham-grange-b3060338.html

Police launch criminal probe after five deaths at scandal-hit prison

Exclusive: Nottinghamshire Police are investigating after a coroner raised concerns about a string of suicides at HMP Lowdham Grange

independent.co.uk

"More than half of people prosecuted under Joint Enterprise are under 25." That almost one in five defendants were children under the age of 18 is extremely concerning, especially given the lengthy prison sentences that can be handed down in cases of homicide. https://ow.ly/b1jN50ZTqvy

More than half of people prosecuted under Joint Enterprise are under 25

The majority of people charged with homicide under the doctrine of Joint Enterprise, which allows people to be convicted over crimes committed by their associates, are under the age of 25. The find…

ow.ly

“Criminalising parents is unlikely to help children who need support, and putting them behind bars would only put further strain on a failing prison system that is already bursting at the seams.” - Andrew Neilson, Howard League. https://ow.ly/g7OT50ZTqgq

Parents of young offenders may face jail

A Government minister has threatened to jail the parents of young offenders, in a drive to ensure stronger discipline in family homes. Jake Richards, the Youth Justice Minister, told The Times that…

ow.ly

Julia Fox is right – there should be fewer women in prison. Watch our video to find out why. https://www.instagram.com/p/Dd9gtd_IgR7/

One week to go until our SPOTLIGHTS event on prisons under pressure. 📅 Thursday 8 October 🕛 12pm to 1.15pm 📍 Online via Zoom 🎟️ Book your free place here: https://lnkd.in/eiXWQBzv

Rates of self-harm and assaults on staff have gone down significantly in prisons. So, what changed? Addressing prison overcrowding doesn’t just make it easier to help people learn skills and move on from crime; it protects staff and saves lives. https://www.instagram.com/p/DdJm6xDTsRo/

Prison is no place for a child. "Children in custody live in fear of being attacked and would be too scared to report bullying or victimisation, according to a survey carried out by inspectors." https://insidetime.org/newsround/jailed-children-live-in-fear-of-violence/

Jailed children live in fear of violence

Children in custody live in fear of being attacked and would be too scared to report bullying or victimisation, according to a survey carried out by inspectors. A review of the survey responses, pu…

insidetime.org

Hundreds of people are expected to be released from prison today, as changes aimed at tackling the overcrowding crisis come into effect. Watch our video to learn more about the changes and why they have been introduced. https://ow.ly/H5Sy50ZT6Qf

Could you help by becoming a Howard League board member? Find out more: https://howardleague.org/about-us/vacancies/board-member-2/

Erlestoke, an overcrowded prison in Wiltshire, is crying out for more staff – the number of officers is about one-third below target. So why is it taking up to 10 months for new staff to be vetted? https://www.instagram.com/p/Dd3r4anoFNA/

"Almost half of electronic tags used to track offenders' movements are not fitted on time, with significant delays putting victims in England and Wales at risk, a report has found." https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj62eyq1g5yvo

Delays in fitting tags on offenders putting victims at risk, report finds

The reports says some criminals are waiting up to five months to be fitted with an electronic tag.

bbc.co.uk

"Saving women from prison is a blueprint for a more compassionate society. The debate around the future of women’s prisons is intensifying. Calls for alternatives focus on support and rehabilitation rather than incarceration." observer.co.uk/news/columni...

Saving women from prison is a blueprint for a more compas...

The debate around the future of women’s prisons is intensifying. Calls for alternatives focus on support and rehabilitation rather than incarceration

observer.co.uk

The prison population has risen again. Today it stood at 87,499 – up 254 from the mark recorded last week. The prison estate should not hold more than 81,616 people, the population currently exceeds this level by 5,883. https://howardleague.org/prison-watch/

Don't miss our next SPOTLIGHTS event! 📅 Thursday 8 October 🕛 12pm to 1.15pm 📍 Online via Zoom 🎟️ Book your free place here: https://howardleague.org/events/spotlights-prisons-under-pressure/

“The prison system is carrying a lot of risk; it operates with risk, it operates with crisis a lot of the time, but you have to decide which risks you can manage and those you can’t.” Hear more from our Chair, Dame Anne Owers, here: https://ow.ly/7vFZ50ZS8gS

While violent offenders walk free, these prison cells lie empty

Under-investment and mismanagement have left thousands of places unused, with crumbling buildings and staff shortages crippling the system

ow.ly

“It’s a constant effort to keep some of these places usable because they are so old and because the infrastructure is so crumbly.” Our Chair, Dame Anne Owers, spoke to the Telegraph about prisons: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/09/23/empty-prison-cell-violent-offenders-free/

While violent offenders walk free, these prison cells lie empty

Under-investment and mismanagement have left thousands of places unused, with crumbling buildings and staff shortages crippling the system

telegraph.co.uk

Rates of self-harm and assaults on staff have gone down significantly in prisons. So, what changed? Addressing prison overcrowding doesn’t just make it easier to help people learn skills and move on from crime; it protects staff and saves lives. https://www.instagram.com/p/DdJm6xDTsRo/

The Howard League has responded to a report of the Crown Prosecution Service Joint Enterprise National Monitoring Scheme 2025-26. The report shows that the CPS prosecuted 188 cases of homicide and attempted homicide, involving a total of 538 defendants. https://ow.ly/nrGe50ZQYRQ #JointEnterprise

Feeling unsafe inevitable for many children in youth custody, as poor standards persist. “Get children out of these toxic places and into an environment where they will receive the care and support they need to turn their lives around.” - Andrew Neilson. https://ow.ly/8Qj050ZQv0y

Feeling unsafe inevitable for many children in youth custody, as poor standards persist

FEELING unsafe is inevitable for many children in youth custody, research by HM Inspectorate of Prisons has revealed, as poor incarceration standards persist.The review analysed evidence from four young offender institutions (YOI) and one secure training centre in England and Wales between April 2025 and March 2026, finding that outcomes remained unacceptable in most establishments.

ow.ly

Prisons like Millsike in East Yorkshire were supposed to be a solution to the capacity crisis. Watch our video to see how, instead, the prison has become part of the problem. https://www.instagram.com/p/DdWbqaoo2qF/