The Scottish Independence Referendum (Franchise) Bill

As the Scottish Government is using this opportunity to amend the franchise in other ways, we would like it to give a fuller explanation of its decision to follow the UK blanket ban on prisoners voting.

Howard League Scotland - and others - have written to the government asking they give consideration to allowing prisoners to vote in Scotland. A copy of our submission to the committee can be downloaded here.

If you would like to write in support of our submission, you can submit something by letter or email to the Bill Committee by 12 April.

We have prepared a draft text you may wish to use.

Who’s Who

Executive Committee Members of the Howard League for Penal Reform in Scotland >>here

Next Tuesday, 14 May, the Scottish Parliament will debate the Scottish Independence Referendum (Franchise) Bill which seeks to extend voting rights to 16 and 17 year olds but also bars convicted prisoners from voting in the referendum.

Howard League for Penal Reform in Scotland has prepared a short briefing note on prisoner voting rights and the independence referendum. This note was sent to all MSPs.

>> Briefing Note

We have also prepared an open letter on the subject, backed by 35 signatories hailing from a wide range of different professional backgrounds.

>> Open Letter re: Prisoner Voting Rights

Howard League Research Medal 2013

The Howard League for Penal Reform in England and Wales has announced the winners of its Research Medal 2013:

We are delighted to announce that Howard League Scotland Executive Committee Member, Professor Lesley McAra, is to be a recipient of the award along with Professor Susan McVie, also at University of Edinburgh, for their Edinburgh study of youth transitions and crime.

Professor Kevin Haines and Dr Stephen Case at Swansea University were joint winners of the award for their work on the Swansea youth diversion scheme.

They will receive their medals at the Howard League President’s annual wine reception at the Houses of Parliament this summer. Articles about their work and information about how they have worked to ensure that their work has impact will be published in the summer.

Transforming Scotland

Lecture by Sir Harry Burns. March 2013. Download audio file here. Download slides here.

Podcasts

The following lectures in the current Women, Children and Families series are now available as an audio podcast and can be downloaded from here.

Repairing Shattered Lives - Juvenile Brain Injury and the Justice System'
Lecture by Prof Huw Williams. February 2013.

Troubling Young People: What’s To Be Done With Them?
Lecture by Tam Baillie. January 2013.

“A Society of Captives”?
New Findings from the Edinburgh Study of Youth Transitions and Crime
Lecture by Prof Lesley McAra. December 2012.

2012-2013 Lecture series

Howard League Scotland in association with Edinburgh Law School, Centre for Law and Society present six lectures on the theme of Women, Children and Families. The lectures run monthly for the next six months beginning with Dr Mary Hepburn delivering the annual Howard League Scotland Drummond Hunter Lecture on “Vulnerable Women, Vulnerable Families”. This lecture has already taken place but Dr Hepburn has kindly provided her slides from the evening for download.

All of these events are free and open to the public and will be followed by a drinks reception. It is helpful if you would please register your attendence by email to events@howardleaguescotland.org.uk This allows us to properly cater for numbers and contact you should there be a late change to the programme.

To register for Dr Gillian Evans’ lecture on 11 April 2013, please click here

The Howard League for Penal Reform in Scotland is an independent organisation whose members seek improvements to the criminal justice system in Scotland.

We believe it is time for criminal justice policy and systems to take a different direction, a direction with much more reliance on effective community approaches to reducing crime and dealing with criminality. A direction with much greater chance of success in reducing crime.

If you share the League's aims please join us. The subscription is a modest £20pa
(£30 families) (£5 for non-taxpayers) which together with donations are used to cover the organisation's running costs.

Abolition of Prison Visiting Committees

Howard League Scotland have written to all MSPs, expressing concern over the proposed replacement of Prison Visiting Committees with an advocacy service.

You can read the letter here

On 11 June 2012, Howard League Scotland hosted a workshop on the Scottish Government’s proposals for a prisoner support service and independent monitoring of prisons. A summary of the discussions is now available. >>here