There are over 120 prisons in England and Wales. All have their own rules and regulations and you can found out more about each prison at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/prisons-in-england-and-wales
Keeping in contact
Letters
To write to someone in prison you will need their prison number and the name and address of the prison. If you don’t know their prison number you can include their date of birth on the envelope.
You can find the prison address by looking up the prison on https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/prisons-in-england-and-wales
Include your own name and address on the envelope too, as some prisons will not accept mail or pass it on to your loved one without this.
Letters are opened by prison staff before they are given to prisoners and they may receive a photocopy rather than the original of what you send in. This includes photos and pictures.
You can email someone in prison using Emates – Email a Prisoner https://www.emailaprisoner.com/
You will need to set up an account and add credit.
There is a charge of £0.42 per email sent and you can include a reply sheet for an extra £0.26 to receive a reply from your loved one with no cost to them. It is possible to attach photos, pictures and documents for £0.32 per attachment (please check the website for up to date pricing).
Phone calls
You cannot phone a person in prison but they are allowed to phone anyone that they have on their approved contacts list. When a person enters prison they can submit phone numbers to be added to their approved contact list. Security staff may ring these numbers to check them before they are approved. It can take a few days for a prisoner’s list to be set up which may mean your loved one cannot call you immediately.
Most prisons have phones in the cells.
Prisoners have to buy credit for making phone calls, which they can do once they have money in their prison account.
Prison Voicemail is a service that allows you to send and receive voicemails from someone in prison. You can download the Prison Voicemail app, or set up an account over the phone. For more information see https://prisonvoicemail.com/
Video Calls
Most prisons have facilities for video calls or virtual visits. If you wish to have a video call with someone in prison you need to download the Prison Video App and set up an account. For more information see https://prisonvideo.com/app
Visiting your loved one
Prisoners book their own visits so if you want to visit someone in prison they will have to book a suitable date and time and inform you when you can visit them. You must be on their approved visitor list.
Most prisons have a visitor centre where you can go before and after your visit for information or support. They are often run by charities and more information about these can be found on each prison’s webpage https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/prisons-in-england-and-wales
For more advice on preparing for a visit see our webpage here
Many prisons organise family days throughout the year. Generally visits are longer and in a more relaxed environment on designated family days, so it may be worth planning to visit for one of these days, especially if you are bringing children (it will only be possible if your family member is approved for this sort of visit).
If you would like help with planning your visit you can contact the ICPO’s Family Support Officer.
Sending money
The only way to send money to a prisoner is through an online payment system https://www.gov.uk/send-prisoner-money
You can only use this service if you have a debit card and you must have the person’s prison number and date of birth. It is free and quick (the money is usually in a prisoner’s account within three days).
If you do not have a debit card or cannot use the internet, please contact the ICPO’s Family Support Officer for further information.
Sending parcels
It is not advisable to send parcels into a prison. Parcels sent from the Republic of Ireland are subject to Customs checks and charges may apply. If Customs charges are owed the prison will not accept the parcel and it will be returned. For security reasons prisons also have very strict rules about items that can be sent in.
Items can be purchased through a catalogue system.
Concerned for your family member’s wellbeing
If you are worried about the safety or mental health someone in prison, each prison has a dedicated phone number called Safer Custody. To find the phone number look up the prison your loved one is in here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/prisons-in-england-and-wales
You can also request the ICPO to make contact with the prison on your behalf.
