What is the Howard League?
The namesake, John Howard:
John Howard was an English prison reformer living from 1726 to 1790. Over his lifetime, he spent some time in a French prison, the start of his lifelong interest and criticism of the prison system of the time. Howard was born to a middle class family and was apprenticed to a wholesale grocer in London, a career he felt no passion for. He eventually returned home to govern over his family’s land in Eastern England and from this role, he was appointed to the position of High Sheriff of
Bedfordshire in 1773. Parts of his responsibilities as Sheriff were to oversee the gaols in his county, a job which was considered repugnant and therefore often left to the under-sheriff. However, due to his interest in the penal system he undertook this role himself and was horrified at what he found.

His passion for prison conditions and prisoner wellbeing led his to spend thousands of pounds of his own money while touring several hundred prisons in England, Scotland, Wales and elsewhere in Europe. He wrote on the conditions he found in these prisons and suggested improvements to what he considered unacceptable standards. He was considered an authority on prison conditions and was called upon to give evidence on these matters to a select committee of the House of Commons.

His work ‘The State of the Prisons,’ published in 1777, was a significant force behind the establishment of single-celling for the housing of prisoners in England.

The Howard League for Penal Reform:
In 1866, the Howard Association (which later became The Howard League for Penal Reform) was formed in England as a prison reform organisation. It took the name of John Howard as a way to honour his work as one of the pioneer prison reformers. There are various other organisations around the world who likewise take inspiration from Howard’s prison reform work and who are named after him. The Howard League first opened in New Zealand in 1924 by three founding members, including Blanche Baughan, Berta Burns, and one other. By 1928, there were eight different branches throughout New Zealand, including Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch, Oamaru, Dunedin, and two other unknown. The majority of these branches were disestablished by 1974, when the Howard League thought that the Justice Department understood
the problems in the Penal system and were undertaking steps to move forward.

The Howard League for Penal Reform had been active in Christchurch for 50 years from 1924 to 1974 before closing down, believing that their work had been completed. It was revived and re-launched in February of 1998 after penal matters took a turn downhill and New Zealand’s prison population skyrocketed and has advocated for humane and effective reform of the penal system ever since.

In 2010, the Howard League Canterbury was joined by a Howard League in Otago and in 2012 another branch was formed in Wellington. These Howard League branches are independent agencies that receive no funding from government, and have no political affiliations. They have links with several loacl and international penal reform organisations.

Aim
The Howard League works to promote open and rational debate on issues of crime, punishment, rehabilitation and alternatives to prison in New Zealand.

How does the Howard League work?

• • By monitoring and reporting on what happens across the justice system – the police, courts
  and prisons
• By preparing and producing accurate information in the way of fact sheets, projects, articles
  and papers
• By advocating for prisoners and their families in times of need
• By writing submissions on proposed changes to the law
• By releasing press statements and responding to media enquiries on penal matters
• By holding regular meetings to which members may attend as observers
• By producing a regular Newsletter for members and supporters

Independence

The Howard League Canterbury is an independent agency which receives no funding from government, and has no political affiliations. It has links with several international penal reform organisations.

Your Support Allows Us To:

• Run education campaigns on selected issues
• Set up working groups to consider aspects of penal policy and practice
• Hold public meetings and seminars on the need for, and purpose of, penal reform
• Produce written information for schools, students, the media and the public
• Produce and distribute fact sheets and newsletters
• Liaise with other agencies involved in the criminal justice system

the benefits to you….

* The knowledge that you are helping reform the criminal justice and penal system
* Up-to-date information about what is happening in these systems

Meetings

Meetings are held on the first Monday of every month (bar Jan) For details of venue, or if you plan coming, just call up on ph.3770313

Join Us Today!