Frances Crook
Frances Crook is the Chief Executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform which is responsible for research programmes and campaigns to raise public concern about suicides in prison, the over-use of custody and poor conditions in prison, young people in trouble, and mothers in prison. Under Frances’ direction, the number of staff and turnover of the charity has grown twenty-fold. The Howard League also provides legal advice to children in custody and has taken a number of successful judicial reviews that have improved the treatment of children and young people in custody and on release.
Prior to taking up her current post, Frances was the campaign’s co-coordinator at Amnesty International’s British Section from 1980 to 1985. After taking a Medieval and Modern History degree at Liverpool University she qualified as a teacher, working in secondary schools in Liverpool and London until 1980. She was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list 2010.
