Each year Nepacs hosts an annual awards event at which a number of awards are presented to prison staff, probation/CRC staff and voluntary sector organisations to highlight the work of exceptional individuals or innovative good practice in promoting resettlement.

The aim is to maintain a focus on rehabilitation within the criminal justice system and to ensure that good practice and ideas are broadcast as widely as possible so that they can be replicated elsewhere.

An offender is 39% less likely to re-offend following release if they have maintained family ties during their sentence.

Ministry of Justice, 2008

Nepacs' Ruth Cranfield Awards 2019 - nominations now open!

Each year Nepacs makes a number of awards to prison staff, probation/CRC staff, voluntary sector and other professionals to highlight the work of exceptional individuals or innovative good practice in promoting rehabilitation of offenders.

Since last year our awards have been named in honour of Ruth Cranfield who had the vision and energy to organise the beginnings of Nepacs in its present day form, and we want our Awards to reward, promote and celebrate that kind of commitment in others working in the difficult climate of today.

We're looking for individuals or teams who have made an outstanding contribution either through an original and innovative approach, or by continued devotion in a particularly difficult and challenging area. The projects concerned do not need to have any connection with Nepacs’ work. 

Winners last year came from HMP Holme House, HMP Durham, and County Durham IOMU staff. Certificate winners came from prisons, probation services, CRCs, local councils and non-statutory organisations right across the region.

How to nominate?

Please use the attached form to give details of your nominee, telling us about their activity and its benefits, and explaining why you think they deserve special recognition. Specific details of projects or case histories are welcomed. Please note we cannot accept nominations for the same body of work from one individual or team in two consecutive years. 

Closing date for nominations has been extended to 24 June 2019.

When will winners be announced?

The winners will receive a personal engraved award and a cheque, and we also award several Highly Commended Certificates. Award and Certificate winners and their proposers will be invited to an informal gathering at Lumley Castle, Chester-le-Street on the afternoon of 18 September for the presentations. This year we are delighted that Jo Farrar, CEO of HMPPS will be presenting our awards.

Find out about past winners here.