This was simply to create space to enable the prisons to be able to take the steady stream of new offenders being sentenced by the courts. Yet, we're all aware that peaceful climate protesters behind the M25 shutdown have been handed down four and five year prison sentences - the harshest terms ever handed down for peaceful protest. Women make up 4% of the prison population, yet there are twice as many women in prison today as there were in 1993, and an estimated 17,000 children are affected by maternal imprisonment each year.

Set against this backdrop, this month's Cloud Cafe will look at the role of prison in 2024. Who benefits from being imprisoned, does prison stop reoffending, and do we need to continue to build prisons to deal with offenders? Are there other options available, which might actually be more effective?

Our speakers are:

Craig Horrocks

Stroud Town Councillor who has worked in rehabilitation in prisons and probation for 30 years - designing, managing and operating services in both men's and women's services.

Emily Evison

Policy and Programme Officer, Prison Reform Trust. Before joining PRT in 2018, Emily studied MSc Criminal Justice Policy at LSE. Emily mentored at PLIAS Resettlement Ltd. for a number of years, a charity which supports people to resettle back into communities after a prison sentence.

Sean Campbell

Policy, Comms and Research at User Voice - an organisation that exists to reduce the harm caused by crime and punishment and which believes that the justice system can and should fundamentally change, so that people caught up in it can transform their lives.

Following the presentations there will be time for audience questions and discussion – we welcome everyone and the session is free.

Can’t make it on the night? Register anyway and you will be sent the recording.