The International Centre for Prison Studies was established in the School of Law , King's College, University of London, United Kingdom in April 1997. It was launched formally by the Right Hon Jack Straw, Home Secretary, in October 1997. It was decided from the outset that the Centre should be independent of governmental and intergovernmental agencies, although it would work closely with them. It was also decided that it needed to be located in an outstanding academic environment.
Prisons are part of the legal process.
In recognition of this fact, the most appropriate setting for the Centre was within a School of Law. King's College is one of the two founding colleges of the University of London. Its School of Law has an international reputation. The Principal of the College and the Head of the School of Law responded enthusiastically to the suggestion that the Centre should be established within the School. They have continued to be totally supportive.