VISITS
Book once you're listed
You can only visit if the prisoner has added you to their visitor list, which can take up to 2 weeks. Most social visits in England and Wales can then be booked online.
Compare the optionsWHAT THE GUIDANCE SAYS
Keep the door
open.
When someone goes to prison, the people closest to them suddenly feel a long way away.
Pick a way
39% LOWERreoffending odds with visits
- Get on the visitor list
- Write often
- Claim travel help
- Small contacts, lasting ties
Visits, letters and calls keep families connected. GOV.UK sets out the basics for England and Wales: who can visit, how often, how to make contact and where to get help with the cost.
Updated
THE SHORT ANSWER
Start with the
visitor list.
Nearly everything depends on the prisoner adding you.
After that, visits, calls and letters can all help.
LETTERS
Write as often as you like
Put the prisoner number on the envelope. There is normally no limit on how many letters you can send, though most are checked by staff.
Getting started
COSTS
Ask for help with travel
Close family on certain benefits can claim travel costs, for example 20p a mile by car in England and Wales, through Help with Prison Visits.
See the numbersGeneral information only, not legal advice. For advice on your own situation, speak to a qualified lawyer or a free advice service.
WAYS TO STAY IN TOUCH
Which way
suits this week?
Pick a way of keeping in contact to see how it works. The bar shows roughly how much setting up it needs before the first contact.
Based on GOV.UK guidance for prisons in England and Wales. Rules differ in Scotland and Northern Ireland, and each prison has its own information page. Not legal advice.
TWO NUMBERS WORTH KNOWING
Why contact
matters.
One figure on visits and reoffending,
one on how often visits are allowed.
39%
Lower odds of reoffending with family visits
Lord Farmer's 2017 review for the Ministry of Justice cites MoJ research: for a prisoner who receives visits from a partner or family member, the odds of reoffending are 39% lower.
FAMILY TIES · MINISTRY OF JUSTICE 2017
2 visits / 4 weeks
Usual minimum for a convicted prisoner
A convicted prisoner is usually allowed at least two 1-hour visits every 4 weeks. A prisoner on remand, waiting for trial, is allowed three 1-hour visits a week.
VISIT ALLOWANCE · GOV.UK
The Farmer review called family the 'golden thread' running through prison reform, and said ties with family can help prevent reoffending and reduce intergenerational crime.
FOUR FIRST STEPS
Where to begin
after a sentence.
The first weeks can feel like a maze. These steps follow the order GOV.UK sets out for England and Wales.
Find the prison and number
You need the prison and the prisoner number. If you do not know where someone is, you can apply to find a prisoner's location.
Ask to be added to the lists
The prisoner adds visitors and the people they may phone. Security checks mean this can take a few days for calls and up to 2 weeks for visits.
Write while you wait
Letters need no booking. Put the prisoner number on the envelope and post it.
Check for help with costs
If you get certain benefits or hold an HC2 or HC3 certificate, you may be able to claim travel, food and some overnight costs.
SENDING THINGS IN
Money by card,
the rest by asking.
Money is sent online by debit card into the prisoner's account. Bank transfers, cheques, postal orders and cash by post are no longer accepted, though you can apply for an exemption if you cannot pay online.
Some items are banned, and it is a criminal offence to give a prisoner things such as alcohol, weapons, a camera or a mobile phone. GOV.UK's advice is simple: contact the prison if you are unsure what you can send.
Questions
Questions people ask
How often can I visit someone in prison?
GOV.UK says a convicted prisoner is usually allowed at least two 1-hour visits every 4 weeks, and a prisoner on remand three 1-hour visits a week. Each prison's information page has its exact rules.
Why can't I book a visit yet?
The prisoner must first add you to their visitor list, which can take up to 2 weeks. The prison will contact you once you are on it.
Can I phone a prisoner?
No, the prisoner has to call you from a prison phone, and only people on their checked list of friends and family can be called. You can also exchange voice messages through Prison Voicemail.
Can I get help with the cost of visiting?
Possibly. Close relatives and partners who get certain benefits, such as Universal Credit under the income limit or Pension Credit, or who hold an HC2 or HC3 certificate, can claim through Help with Prison Visits.
Do family visits make a difference?
Ministry of Justice research cited in the 2017 Farmer review found that the odds of reoffending were 39% lower for prisoners who received visits from a partner or family member.