Peter Dawson appointed director of the Prison Reform Trust
Trustees of the Prison Reform Trust (PRT) are delighted to announce the appointment of its new director, Peter Dawson. Peter is currently deputy director of PRT and is only the third director to be appointed in the history of the organisation.
Peter has spent the majority of his career in government and the prison service. He was Governor of HMP Downview and HMP High Down between 2005 and 2012. Before joining PRT in 2015, Peter also worked in the private sector for Sodexo Justice Services.
Peter takes over from the current director Juliet Lyon on 8 August. His appointment, warmly welcomed by Juliet and the PRT team, comes at a crucial time for prison reform – when prospects for reform are good but the state of our prisons is bleak. Both the Secretary of State for Justice, Michael Gove, and the Prime Minister, have committed themselves to a bold programme of prison reform as a high priority for government as a whole. At the same time, the overall state of our prisons is grim, with indicators revealing shocking levels of violence and self-harm; a steep rise in natural and self-inflicted deaths; and declining rates of purposeful activity.
PRT is a small independent charity with a strong track record of driving policy and practice change. It was founded in 1981 to inform public debate and improve prison conditions and the treatment of prisoners, amidst concerns about a projected prison population of 48,000 by 1984. With the prison population in England and Wales exceeding 84,000, the charity remains as important to civic society today as it was then.
Commenting on his appointment as director, Peter Dawson said:
“I could not be prouder to be selected as only the third director in the Prison Reform Trust’s 35 year history. Juliet Lyon leaves a legacy of a highly respected organisation staffed by tremendous people, with knowledgeable, committed supporters. But, despite gains made, whether you live or work in prison, things have rarely been tougher than they are now. Reform is urgent, and it is our job to make sure the Government’s fine words turn into reality.”
PRT chair, James Timpson, said:
“Peter’s clear vision for the charity, and his knowledge and experience of the justice system, marked him out, among a strong field of candidates, as the person with the qualities and skills to lead the organisation into a new period for prison reform. His appointment signals a step change for PRT as we gear up, not only to improve treatment and conditions in our overcrowded prisons, but also to reduce any needless use of imprisonment and its social and economic costs.”
