STORY
Michelle Jarman-Howe has been appointed Director General of Prisons following a recruitment process, the Ministry of Justice and HM Prison and Probation Service announced on 19 October. She had been serving in the role on an interim basis and will lead prison operations across England and Wales.
Jarman-Howe joined the Prison Service as a prison officer in 1995 and subsequently held operational leadership positions, including as a prison governor. She became a Deputy Director of Custody in 2013, before serving as Executive Director for Public Sector Prisons South between 2019 and 2022. She then held the position of Chief Operating Officer for Prisons from 2022 to 2025.
Her responsibilities include overseeing prison safety, security and conditions, alongside protecting the public and supporting efforts to reduce reoffending. Jarman-Howe said she was “honoured” by the appointment and paid tribute to staff working to keep prisons safe and help people change their lives. She added that she looked forward to building on progress made within the service.