Practical information & advice
Read our latest news posts about leaving prison
Information
Here you’ll find links to various parts of this site where we have information and useful resources relating to leaving prison.
Our work as a charity is generally focused on the issues that people face after release from prison, or just generally because of their criminal record. However, we have a few useful sections of information relating to prison:
- Resettlement services
- Education in prison
- Working for an outside employer while still in prison
- Licence conditions
- Supervision in the community (after release from prison and on probation or a community order
- Prison records
If you’re looking for legal advice on a prison matter, you might want to check out the Association of Prison Lawyers.
We’ve got details of some organisations that provide information and advice to families in our important links and organisations section.
Our work focuses on the issues faced by people once they are released from prison, rather than those just going into custody. You may find further information in the ‘Useful Links’ section of this page.
The GOV.uk site has some specific guides for people leaving prison who need to make a claim for Universal Credit.
- Universal Credit: guide for prison leavers who have a work coach
- Universal Credit: guide for prison leavers who don’t have a work coach
- Acceptable Identification checklist
Advice
Here you’ll find some of the common advice we give on prison. This is based on what we’ve learnt as a charity, as well as the real-life experiences of people with convictions.
- Our work as a charity is generally focused on the issues that people face after release from prison, or just generally because of their criminal record.
- There are a number of organisations that are focused specifically on prison issues – they will be better placed to deal with specific issues relating to prison. Their details can be found at the bottom of this page.
Frequently asked questions
Here you’ll find some specific questions that we regularly get about prison and the answers we generally provide. More detailed FAQ’s may be included in the information pages above.
Unless you’ve received a prison sentence of over 2 years, you should be able to remain on the list of the GP that you were registered with prior to going into prison. However, if it’s been necessary for you to receive any healthcare whilst in custody then your medical records will have been sent to the prison and you will probably have been removed from your GP’s list.
We are aware of people who have found it difficult to register with a new GP upon release; often because they’re out of the practice area. The latest General Medical Services Contract however states that vulnerable individuals should be allowed to register with a practice prior to release. Your prison healthcare department should contact your preferred practice to arrange this.
If you can’t register with a practice prior to release and you’re refused registration by a GP practice, then you should ask the practice to put in writing to you the reason for their refusal. You will then be able to contact your local Primary Care Trust who have a duty to provide you with access to a local GP practice.
Useful links
Here you’ll find links to useful organisations and websites related to prison that we refer to in our information and advice.
Advice
Website: www.howardleague.org
Telephone Helpline: 0808 801 0308
Address: 1 Ardleigh Road, London N1 4HS
Website: www.offendersfamilieshelpline.org
Telephone: 0808 808 2003
Email: info@offendersfamilieshelpline.org
Address: Family Lives, 15-17 The Broadway, Hatfield, Herts, AL9 5HZ
Website: www.prisonersadvice.org.uk
Telephone: 020 7253 3323
Email: advice@prisonersadvice.org.uk
Address: PO Box 46199, London EC1M 4XA
Website: www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk
Telephone: 020 7251 5070
Email: www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk/ContactUs
Address: 15 Northburgh Street, London EC1V 0JR
Complaints
Website: www.ppo.gov.uk
Telephone: 020 7633 4100 or lo-call 0845 010 7938
Email: mail@ppo.gsi.gov.uk
Address: Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, PO Box 70769, London, SE1P 4XY
Education
Website: www.prisonerseducation.org.uk
Telephone: 020 3752 5680
Address: The Foundry, 17 Oval Way, London, SE11 5RR or FREEPOST PRISONERS’ EDUCATION TRUST
Financial
Telephone: 01824 704535
Email: paul@thetaxacademy.co.uk
Address: Unit 4 Ffordd yr Onnen, Lon Parcwr Business Park, Ruthin, Denbighshire LL15 1NJ
Housing and resettlement
Website: www.langleyhousetrust.org
Telephone: 03330 035 025
Email: info@langleyhousetrust.org
Address: Langley House Trust, PO Box 6364, Coventry CV6 9LL
Website: www.stonham.org.uk
Email: contactus@stonham-bass.org.uk
Address: Stonham, 2 Gosforth Park Way, Gosforth Business Park, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne NE12 8ET
Life in prison
Website: http://www.doingtime.co.uk/
Website: www.emailaprisoner.com
Telephone: 0333 370 6550
Email: support@unilink-technology-services.com
Address: Unilink Technology Services Limited, PO Box 1288, Bristol BS39 5YJ
Penfriends
Website: http://www.prisonerspenfriends.org
Website: http://www.bentbarsproject.org
Publications
Website: www.clinks.org/directories
Telephone: 020 7383 0966
Email: info@clinks.org
Address: Directory of Offender Services, Tavis House, 1-6 Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9NA
Website: www.insidetime.org
Other
Website: www.uservoice.org
Telephone: 020 3137 7471
Email: info@uservoice.org
Address: Regional Office addresses
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Key sections include:
- Prison – Working out whilst in prison