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

Find out about past winners here.

Nepacs' Ruth Cranfield Awards 2018 - 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. Once again we would like to reward, promote and celebrate the hard work accomplished in this field, in circumstances that are tougher than ever. 

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. 

This year is special for us as we are celebrating the work and achievements of a leading figure in recent Nepacs’ history, and renaming the awards in her honour. Ruth Cranfield organised and inspired a small voluntary committee to open the first visitors’ centre in the north east at HMP Durham in 1981. Her commitment, drive, and dedication has, as Nepacs has grown and expanded in its scope, continued to build her vision of a volunteer-based society dedicated to improving the support given to offenders and their family and friends. Ruth now continues to be an inspiration as a Patron of the Society, and we are delighted that her work will be commemorated from now on in our Awards, which this year will be held on Monday 24 September.

Winners last year came from HMPs Frankland, Kirklevington and Low Newton, Durham Tees Valley CRC, Rethink Mental Illness, working across four NE prisons, and Checkpoint, a multi-disciplinary team working with Durham Constabulary. Certificate winners came from prisons, CRCs 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 Tuesday 29 May 2018.

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 24 September 2018 for the presentations, which this year will be made by HM chief inspector of probation, Dame Glenys Stacey DBE.