John Howard Society

The John Howard Society of Saskatchewan is an independent voluntary advocacy group concerned with identifying and resolving issues related to crime, crime prevention, and the criminal justice system. Its roots began with John Howard, an English prison reformer in the late 18th century. His book, The State of Prisons in England and Wales, led to massive reforms in the 19th century, bringing prisons under government control and regulation, and introducing health and welfare measures for prisoners. The first John Howard Society, concerned with rehabilitation and aftercare of prisoners, began in British Columbia in 1931; all Canadian provinces now have local chapters. Their individual programs have expanded to include public Education, community development, the evaluation and reform of the criminal justice process, research and resource development, and early crime intervention. The Society’s mission statement is: “Effective, just and humane responses to the causes and consequences of crime.” The Saskatchewan branches focus on creative, humane, and progressive responses to the problems of crime, and offer advocacy, direct service, and public education. The provincial society’s two main programs, Primary Crime Prevention and Stop-Lift, focus on early intervention, and teach social responsibility and accountability to Children and teens.