Leaving prison

Practical information & advice
Read personal stories
Discuss this with others

Practical information & advice

+-Click here for details of what's in this section

Information
Advice
Frequently asked questions
Useful links

Read our latest information and advice 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.

I’m looking for some information specifically about prison issues?

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:

I’m looking for some legal advice about a prison issue.

If you’re looking for legal advice on a prison matter, you might want to check out the Association of Prison Lawyers.

My husband has just received a prison sentence. Are there any organisations that can provide me with information about what to expect whilst he’s in prison?

We’ve got details of some organisations that provide information and advice to families in our important links and organisations section.

I’m worried that I’m going to be given a prison sentence. Can you give me some information about dealing with the day to day issues in prison?

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.

I’m worried about how I’ll go about claiming benefits when I leave prison. Can you help at all?

The GOV.uk site has some specific guides for people leaving prison who need to make a claim for Universal Credit.

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.

Coming soon.

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

+-Howard League For Penal Reform Advice Line

A national charity working for less crime, safer communities and fewer people in prison. Run a Helpline offering advice on a range of issues affecting young people in custody

Website: www.howardleague.org
Telephone Helpline: 0808 801 0308
Address: 1 Ardleigh Road, London N1 4HS

+-Offenders Families Helpline

Provides a Helpline supporting families of offenders seeking information or emotional support.

Website: www.offendersfamilieshelpline.org
Telephone: 0808 808 2003
Email: info@offendersfamilieshelpline.org
Address: Family Lives, 15-17 The Broadway, Hatfield, Herts, AL9 5HZ

+-Prisoners Advice Service

They are an independent legal charity providing information and representation to prisoners on their rights as prisons. They cover England and Wales. They do not deal with miscarriages of justice or appeals against conviction/sentence.

Website: www.prisonersadvice.org.uk
Telephone: 020 7253 3323
Email: advice@prisonersadvice.org.uk
Address: PO Box 46199, London EC1M 4XA

+-Prison Reform Trust

PRT run an advice and information service which provides free information about prison life, rules and regulations and prisoner’s rights. They also give advice and assistance (they are unable to give legal advice).

Website: www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk
Telephone: 020 7251 5070
Email: www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk/ContactUs
Address: 15 Northburgh Street, London EC1V 0JR

Complaints

+-Prisons and Probation Ombudsman

The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) carries out independent investigations into deaths and complaints in custody.

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

+-Prisoners Education Trust

Provides access to learning opportunities for prisoners to enhance their chances of building a better life after release. They provide a grants programme assisting prisoners to study distance learning courses not available in prison.

Website: www.prisonerseducation.org.uk
Telephone: 020 3752 5680
Address: The Foundry, 17 Oval Way, London, SE11 5RR or FREEPOST PRISONERS’ EDUCATION TRUST

Financial

+-The Tax Academy

Provide advice around tax issues to prisoners.

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

+-Langley House Trust

Langley House Trust provides resettlement services for people with convictions.

Website: www.langleyhousetrust.org
Telephone: 03330 035 025
Email: info@langleyhousetrust.org
Address: Langley House Trust, PO Box 6364, Coventry CV6 9LL

+-Stonham Bass

Stonham Bass provide accommodation and support services to people on bail or Home Detention Curfew (HDC) if they have no other suitable accommodation.

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

+-DoingTime

Doing time will give you the reality of what you are facing as you are processed through the prison system, and will help you deal with day-to-day issues. Information is based on the shared experiences of people who have been in prison and those working within the criminal justice system.

Website: http://www.doingtime.co.uk/

+-Email a Prisoner

Email a Prisoner helps family and friends communicate easily and frequently with people in prison.

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

+-First time in prison - Website

A useful website with practical advice for those facing their first prison sentence.

Penfriends

+-Prisoners' Penfriends

Prisoners’ Penfriends makes it possible for volunteers to write safely to prisoners.

Website: http://www.prisonerspenfriends.org

+-New Bridge Foundation

A befriending service which aims to support vulnerable people in prison by establishing and maintaining contact through letter writing and visiting.

Website: http://www.newbridgefoundation.org.uk

+-Bent Bars Project

Bent Bars Project is a letter writing project for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual and intersex prisoners in Britain. The project aims to develop stronger connections and build solidarity between LGBTQ communities outside and inside prison.

Website: http://www.bentbarsproject.org

Publications

+-Directory of Offender Services

Clink’s Directory of Offender Services provides a database of organisations working with people with convictions and their families.

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

+-HM Prison Service Survival Guide

A useful online guide produced by a former prisoner. To read online, click here.

+-Inside Time

The national newspaper for prisoners.

Website: www.insidetime.org

+-The Little Book of Prison: A Beginners Guide

An interesting book that can be bought from Amazon.