Leaving prison

• Information
• Advice
• Frequently asked questions
• Useful links

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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 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

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

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

Website: http://www.prisonerspenfriends.org

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 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

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

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

The national newspaper for prisoners.

Website: www.insidetime.org

An interesting book that can be bought from Amazon.

User Voice works with people with convictions to feedback their views and insights of the Criminal Justice System.

Website: www.uservoice.org
Telephone: 020 3137 7471
Email: info@uservoice.org
Address: Regional Office addresses