Monday 19 October 2009 19.00

Venue: Hertford College

Organised by Oxford University in conjunction with Law Society/Howard League for Penal Reform (Oxford Society)

Speaker: Chris Callendar - Head of the Howard League for Penal Reform's legal team; Andrew Nielsen - Assistant Director, the Howard League for Penal Reform; John Podmore - Former governor, HMP Brixton, south London

The prison system within the UK is at the centre of many of the country's major social problems, such as homelessness, drug abuse and unemployment. As the country's preeminent prison and criminal justice reform society, The Howard League for Penal Reform provides personal support and legal advocacy for vulnerable prisoners, and campaigns for a penal system with greater opportunities for rehabilitation of offenders. The Howard League's legal team provides the only dedicated legal service for young people in custody in England and Wales.

Topics to be covered in the presentations and discussion include the nature of the prison system in the UK, and an introduction to the work of the Howard League, its legal team and its work with young people. An excellent opportunity for those interested in legal or policy work in this area to obtain advice and information from representatives of a leading penal reform charity.