USEFUL LINKS

CHARITIES

Action for Prisoners' Families
www.prisonersfamilies.org.uk
An umbrella organisation which encourages the development of, and acts as a voice for, organisations and individuals who help the families of people in prison.

Alternatives to Violence Project
www.avpbritain.org.uk
A national network of volunteers running workshops for anyone who wants to find ways of resolving conflict without resorting to violence.

Association of Members of IMB
www.amimb.co.uk
Independent Monitoring Boards (IMBs) are each made up of between 10 and 20 volunteers who have been appointed by the Minister of Justice or Home Secretary to monitor day to day life in their local prison or immigration removal centre and ensure that proper standards of care and decency are maintained.

Apex Charitable Trust
www.apextrust.com
Aims to improve the employment prospects of (ex) offenders and the long-term unemployed by providing services, training and advice through its projects.

Bridging the Gap
www.btguk.org
A voluntary organisation working to help ex-prisoners with resettlement.

Criminal Cases Review Commission
www.ccrc.gov.uk
An independent body set up under the Criminal Appeal Act 1995 to investigate possible miscarriages of justice in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Criminon UK
www.criminon.org
A charity providing distance learning courses in prisons.

Email a Prisoner

www.emailaprisoner.com

A service that enables friends and family to send brief e-mails to prisoners in a growing number of participating prisons.  The service is quick, easy to use and hassle free - all for less than the cost of a first class stamp.

Fine Cell Work
www.finecellwork.co.uk
A charity that teaches needlework to prison inmates and sells their products.

HM Prison Service
www.hmprisonservice.gov.uk
Find out about the work carried out in prisons throughout England and Wales.

Howard League for Penal Reform
www.howardleague.org
Campaigns for a more humane criminal justice system. It researches and comments on criminal justice policy and practice, and holds conferences and debates. It publishes books, reports and other educational material.

Inquest
www.inquest.org.uk
Provides an independent, free, legal and advice service to families following a death in prison. It provides support and information about the inquest system and help in finding lawyers to represent bereaved families. It campaigns to improve the investigation of these deaths and to prevent future deaths.

Inside Time
www.insidetime.org
Is the first national newspaper for prisoners and their families and is distributed to every prison and special hospital in Britain, free of charge. 46,000 copies are distributed each issue (monthly).

International Centre for Prison Studies
www.kcl.ac.uk/icps
Seeks to assist governments and other relevant agencies to develop appropriate policies on prisons and the use of imprisonment.

Justice
www.justice.org.uk
A law reform and human rights group. For further details on its eligibility criteria contact the Legal Assistant at Justice's office.
Langley House Trust
www.langleyhousetrust.org
Provides accommodation nationally for ex-prisoners with a range of care, support and supervision services.

Liberty
www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk
An independent, non-government organisation working to defend and extend the civil and political rights of people in Britain. They are opposed to any abuse or excessive use of power by the state against its people.

Magistrates Association
www.magistrates-association.org.uk
Everything you need to know about Magistrates.

MIND
www.mind.org.uk
Works for a better life for people in mental distress, and campaigns for their rights.

NACRO
www.nacro.org.uk
Working to give ex-offenders, disadvantaged people and deprived communities the help they need to build a better future.

National Association of Citizens' Advice Bureaux
www.adviceguide.org.uk
There are approximately 1,000 CABx in the country, some of which have links with local prisons. They offer advice, information or advocacy on a wide range of issues.

PACT
www.imprisonment.org.uk
PACT provides a range of services to both prisoners and their families. Voluntary groups visit local prisons in some areas.

POPS
www.partnersofprisoners.co.uk
Offers a wide range of services to anyone who has a loved one in prison. Advice, information and moral support is available from arrest to release.

Positive Justice Gloucestershire
www.positivejusticeglos.org.uk
Positive Justice Gloucestershire seeks to promote good practice within the criminal justice system by balancing media representation and raising the awareness of the public to positive initiatives, particularly alternatives to imprisonment where appropriate.

Prison Fellowship (England and Wales)
www.prisonfellowship.org.uk
Offers support to prisoners, families and ex-offenders. They are volunteer-based with a Christian ethos. They offer their services to anyone who asks them, regardless of beliefs.

Prison Phoenix Trust
www.prisonphoenixtrust.org.uk
Provide information to prisoners on meditation and yoga.

Prison Reform Trust
www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk
The work of the Prison Reform Trust is aimed at creating a just, humane and effective penal system.

Prisoners Education
www.prisonerseducation.org.uk
Provides funding and other assistance to prisoners who cannot otherwise study whilst in prison.

Prisoners' Families & Friends Service
www.prisonersfamiliesandfriends.org.uk
Helps the families and friends of prisoners.

Rehabilitation of Addicted Prisoners Trust - RAPT
www.rapt.org.uk
Drug treatment and counselling services to prisoners.

Restorative Justice Consortium
www.restorativejustice.org.uk
Comprehensive site promoting the use of restorative justice in schools, the community, prisons, the criminal justice system, the workplace and any other situation where conflict arises.

Smart Justice
www.smartjustice.org
A crime reduction campaign site, widening the public debate on crime and punishment by working in partnership with statutory and voluntary agencies, the police and community groups.

SOVA
www.sova.org.uk
A national charity which promotes voluntary action in the penal field, by recruiting, training and deploying volunteers to work alongside statutory agencies.

SPIRITUALITY IN PRISON
www.bkwsu.org.uk/spiritualityinprison
'Spirituality in Prison' is the name of a dedicated group of individuals who organize seminars and workshops to encourage personal growth and development – mentally, emotionally, and spiritually – for those who work in offender management. 

The Butler Trust
www.thebutlertrust.org.uk
The Butler Trust is an independent charity which recognises excellence and innovation by people working with offenders in the UK. Through its Annual Award Scheme and Development Programme, the Trust helps to develop effective care for offenders by: identifying and promoting excellence and innovation by staff; developing and disseminating best practice in the care and resettlement of offenders; and providing professional and personal development opportunities through the Award Scheme.

The Parole Board
www.paroleboard.gov.uk
The Parole Board is an independent body that protects the public by making risk assessments about prisoners to decide who may safely be released into the community and must remain in or be returned to custody.

Unit for the Arts and Offenders
www.apcentre.org.uk
Umbrella organisation promoting and supporting the use of arts in the criminal justice system.

Unlock
www.unlock.org.uk
The National Association of Reformed Offenders.

Women in Prison
www.womeninprison.org.uk
WIP visits women prisoners and offers practical help and advice on a range of welfare issues.