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Michele Deitch, expert on US prisons and sentencing policy, will be in discussion with CCJS Director, Richard Garside and other invited guests, on the real lessons of recent Texas prisons policy. These include the earned progression model for prisoners – the so-called ‘good time’ scheme – under which prisoners can earn an earlier parole hearing on the basis of good behaviour.
The Texas ‘good time’ scheme has been praised in David Gauke’s recently-published Independent Sentencing Review, and by the government, with Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood telling parliament that Texas had “brought their prison population under control”.
Inspired by the Texas scheme, the government is exploring the potential for an earned progression scheme in England and Wales. Under the scheme, those who cooperate could earn early release, while those who “behave excessively badly” would have to wait longer than currently is the case to be released.

• Is the Texas ‘good time’ scheme all that it is cracked up to be?
• Can an earned progression scheme really help England and Wales bring its prison population under control?
• Is the Texas approach one to be emulated, or one to be avoided?

The Social Outcomes Conference is the annual convening of the world's leading researchers, policymakers and practitioners working to improve social outcomes. The conference will feature discussions on the latest thinking and findings from academic research alongside insights from the emerging practice across different geographies, disciplines and policy areas.

The conference remains committed to bridging academia, policy, and practice for better social outcomes, emphasising inclusive evidence-building and open knowledge-sharing. We encourage participants to embrace this interdisciplinary exchange, recognising that learning from those outside one’s immediate field is a valuable opportunity. We are committed to rigorous research and evidence-driven insights, ensuring that academic advancements inform best practices in policy and implementation—and that, in turn, real-world practice shapes the research agenda.

Attendees can expect a dynamic environment that fosters cross-sector dialogue, deepens understanding, and advances the field of outcomes-focused work. As in previous years, the conference will feature discussions on the latest thinking and findings from academic research alongside insights from emerging practice across different geographies, disciplines and policy areas.