This response looks in detail at the final report of the Independent Prison Capacity Review, written by Dame Anne Owers. It sets out the challenges highlighted within the report and discusses what can be done to solve the prison capacity crisis.

This is a guest blog by David Kendall, the founder of "Penned Up" - a literary festival that takes place in prison. David started "Penned Up" because he felt people in prison were denied agency – art was done to them. The festival started in HMP Lewes in 2015, and has run programmes in Downview and Erlestoke with the latter becoming its base. The model is always a committee of prisoners working with the festival directors to put together a programme reflecting the interests and needs of its prison audience. 

The Families' Network was set up in 2023 to create a forum for voluntary organisations supporting families impacted by the criminal justice system. This blog tells the story of the Network so far and looks ahead to its future.

Jon Collins, Chief Executive of the Prisoners' Education Trust, has written this guest blog on how to make a success of the 'earned progression' model recommended in the Independent Sentencing Review.