Our Research

We are enthusiastic to work with academics and practitioners in law, criminology, and other fields where the focus is on prison law and people in prison.

Our extensive network of clients, with whom we communicate on a daily basis, places us in a strong position to undertake research and collaborate with others for our clients’ benefit.

In the past, we have been approached by film directors, fellow charities, and academics to contribute to their work. We welcome further collaboration with those who share our values so please do reach out to us if you would like us to support and contribute to your work.

Areas of Research of interest

Legal Aid

It was out of the cuts made to this area our project was created. Some ten years on, the effects of the cuts and the current cost of living crisis is seeing our project caseload increase tenfold. Hence, the need to explore these cost savings is even more so pressing.

The project started it’s research on this area in 2021 and continues to review data and analyse new areas of concern. We hope the research we have undertaken in this area will contribute to raising awareness of our broken legal system.

IPPs

Through consistent correspondence with our IPP clients, the troubling reality of the legacy of IPPs is being fully revealed to us.

IPPs (Imprisonment for Public Protection) are a form of sentence that have now been abolished, albeit not retroactively. They are indeterminate sentences that require prisoners, once they have served their tariff, to prove to Parole Boards they no longer pose a threat to the public in order to be released. Due to the lack of prison rehabilitative resources and shortage of Parole hearings, this task is near impossible. Thus, thousands of prisoners are stuck in prison long after their tariff has expired.

If they are eventually released, IPP prisoners must then spend their lives outside prison under the threat of recall, where they can be sent back to prison for minor infractions.

The uncertainty faced by those serving IPPs has led to a much higher propensity to self-harm than those serving normal determinate sentences. Sadly, 65 prisoners serving IPPs have committed suicide in prison.

We hope the research we undertake in this area could contribute to freeing those still shackled by this unlawful and inhumane sentence.

Healthcare in Prison

People in prison are entitled to the same healthcare they would receive as if they were in the community. Their punishment is to deprive them of their liberty, not their healthcare. With over a third of our enquiries relating to matters arising out of their day-to-day care and treatment needs, our research and contribution to this area is focussed on raising awareness of this increasingly shocking area of abuse of their basic rights.