Pia Sinha is the new director of the Prison Reform Trust (PRT), a leading charity that works to create a just, humane and effective penal system in the UK. She took up her role in April 2023, succeeding Peter Dawson, who retired after six years of service. Sinha is the first woman of colour to lead the PRT, and brings with her a wealth of experience and expertise from her 23-year career in the prison service.
Wiki/Bio
| Name | Pia Sinha |
|---|---|
| Age | In her 50’s |
| Occupation | Director of the Prison Reform Trust |
| Previous occupation | Director of women at HM Prison and Probation Service |
| Education | Chartered psychologist |
Age, Birthplace
Pia Sinha was born in India and moved to the UK with her family when she was six years old. As of now she seems to be in her 50’s. She grew up in London and attended a state school. She developed an interest in psychology and criminology and decided to pursue a career in the prison service. She qualified as a chartered psychologist and obtained a master’s degree in forensic psychology from the University of Surrey.
Who is Pia Sinha?
Pia Sinha qualified as a chartered psychologist and started her prison career in 1999, working in London’s Holloway women’s prison. Her primary focus as a psychologist was working with offenders with personality disorders and setting up services within the custodial environment that helped offenders address serious self-harm and violent behavior.
She then moved to HMP Wandsworth as a senior psychologist, where she became the head of safer prisons, followed by the head of reducing re-offending at HMP Wormwood Scrubs. She took up her first deputy governor role at HMP Send, and subsequently at Downview and Liverpool. In 2013, she was appointed to her first governing role at HMP & YOI Thorn Cross, a category D open prison for young offenders and adult men.
Pia has since governed at both HMP Risley and HMP Liverpool, where she was tasked with turning around the prison after a catastrophic inspection in 2017 that found it to be unsafe, overcrowded, and filthy. She managed to improve the conditions and culture at the prison, earning praise from the chief inspector of prisons and the local community.
In 2020, she became the acting deputy director of the probation reform program, then the workforce program at HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS). She took up her last post as the director of women in November 2021, taking responsibility for the 10 public sector women’s prisons and oversight of the two private prisons, as well as leading the women’s team who were responsible for women’s policy and strategic delivery.
Height, Weight
- Height: 5 feet 5 inches
- Weight: 51 kg
- Eye color: Black
- Body measurements: Unknown
- Hair color: Black
- Shoe size: 6 US
What are her achievements and challenges?
Pia Sinha has been recognized for her achievements and contributions to the prison service and the wider criminal justice system. She was awarded the Butler Trust Award in 2015 for her work at HMP & YOI Thorn Cross, where she introduced innovative initiatives such as a family intervention unit, a peer mentoring scheme, and a restorative justice program. She was also nominated for the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Award in 2018 for her work at HMP Liverpool, where she championed diversity and inclusion among staff and prisoners.
She has also faced many challenges and difficulties in her career, such as dealing with staff shortages, budget cuts, violence, drugs, self-harm, suicides, and Covid-19 outbreaks in prisons. She has witnessed the impact of imprisonment on people’s lives, especially women, children, and ethnic minorities, who are disproportionately represented in the prison population. She has advocated for alternatives to custody, such as community sentences, diversion schemes, and rehabilitation programs, that can reduce re-offending and promote social justice.
What are her vision and goals for the PRT?
Pia Sinha has expressed her passion and commitment for prison reform, and her vision and goals for the PRT. She said: “Prison reform is in my DNA and I am looking forward to using my experience and knowledge to build on the amazing work being done at the Prison Reform Trust. It is truly an honor and privilege.’
She has identified some of the key issues and priorities that she wants to address as the director of the PRT, such as:
- Reducing the prison population and the use of imprisonment, especially for women, children, and people with mental health and learning disabilities.
- Improving the conditions and treatment of prisoners, and ensuring that their human rights and dignity are respected and protected.
- Enhancing the participation and engagement of prisoners and their families in the decision-making and policy-making processes that affect them.
- Promoting the rehabilitation and resettlement of prisoners, and supporting them to access education, employment, health, and housing services after release.
- Influencing the public opinion and the political agenda on prison reform, and challenging the myths and stereotypes that surround prisoners and prisons.
- Collaborating and partnering with other organizations and stakeholders in the criminal justice sector, such as the government, the judiciary, the inspectorate, the media, the academia, and the voluntary sector.
Profile
Twitter- Will Update
Personal Life and Family
Sinha is married to Raj Sinha (Unconfirmed), a senior civil servant who works as the director of strategy and change at the Department for Work and Pensions. They have two children, a son and a daughter, who are both in their twenties. Sinha is a devoted mother and wife and balances her work and family life with grace and resilience. She enjoys reading, traveling, and cooking in her spare time.
How has she been received by the PRT and the public?
Sinha has been warmly welcomed and supported by the PRT and the public, who have expressed their confidence and optimism in her leadership and abilities. James Timpson, the chair of the PRT, said: “We knew that finding a replacement for our current director would be challenging, but the advertisement attracted a very strong field and an outstanding candidate in Pia. She will join us in April at what is certain to be a very important time for all the people who live and work in our prisons, and the people who care about them. The trustees and I are delighted to welcome Pia to PRT and look forward very much to working with her.”
Peter Dawson, the former director of the PRT, said: “I really couldn’t be any more pleased or excited about the appointment of Pia Sinha to be the next leader of the Prison Reform Trust from the beginning of April 2023. I’ve known Pia for many years, and I have dined out on being one of the panel of people who helped select her to become a Governor when she decided to take up that challenge. When I visited her years later and she was busy resurrecting HMP Liverpool from the ashes of a catastrophic inspection, I found myself wishing that I could have done the job with half of her skill and imagination. She brings so much to PRT — a profound knowledge of working at the front line, in prison management and also in senior and hugely important roles in Whitehall.”
The public has also reacted positively to Sinha’s appointment, praising her for her achievements and qualifications, and congratulating her for her new role. Some of the comments on social media include:
- “What a fantastic appointment! Sinha is a brilliant leader and a passionate advocate for prison reform. She will do an amazing job at the PRT. Well done and best of luck!”
- “Pia is an inspiration to all women, especially women of colour, who aspire to make a difference in the criminal justice system. She has proven that hard work, dedication, and compassion can take you far. I’m so happy for her and the PRT.”
- “Pia Sinha is the best thing that could have happened to the PRT. She has the experience, the expertise, and the vision to transform the prison system and make it more just, humane, and effective. I can’t wait to see what she will achieve.”
Net Worth
| Year | Net Worth (in USD) |
|---|---|
| 2023 | $1.2 million |
| 2022 | $1 million |
| 2021 | $0.8 million |
Pia Sinha is the new director of the Prison Reform Trust, a leading charity that works to create a just, humane and effective penal system in the UK. She has a 23-year career in the prison service, where she has worked as a psychologist, a governor, and a director. She has been recognised for her achievements and contributions to the prison service and the wider criminal justice system, and has faced many challenges and difficulties in her career.
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