Letters

You can contact a prisoner by writing to them. Normally there’s no limit on the number of letters you can send.

Most letters sent to (and from) prison are checked by prison staff.

Letters from solicitors and courts must not be opened, except in specific cases (eg where there’s a suspicion it’s not from a legal adviser).

You can complain to the prison if you think your letters are being read when they shouldn’t be, or if your letters aren’t reaching the prisoner.

Telephone calls

The prisoner has to call you using a prison phone.

Prison staff can listen to most types of call and they can be recorded, but some calls are not monitored or recorded - eg to the prisoner's legal adviser.

You must not update any social networking website (eg Facebook or Twitter) on the prisoner’s behalf.

You can’t email prisoners directly, but some prisons use the Email a Prisoner service which lets you send emails that are printed off and delivered to the prisoner by prison staff. Each email costs 30p and you need to buy credit to use the service. Prisoners can’t send a reply using this service.

Not all prisons allow this service. Contact the prison to see if you can use it.

You must not send or give anything to a prisoner that:

• is indecent or obscene
• threatens the security of the prison
• is written in code
• the prisoner has written that they want to publish and be paid for

It’s a criminal offence to send or give a prisoner:

• illegal drugs
• alcohol
• weapons
• a camera
• a mobile phone

Contact the prison if you’re unsure what you can send or give.

You can send money to a prisoner. Cheques or postal orders (payable to ‘NOMS Agency’) are preferred, but you can also send cash.

You should address your envelope to the governor of the prison and your letter should include:

• your name and address
• the prisoner’s name and prison number

The money is then paid into their prison account- a basic cash account they can use to send and receive money.

Privately-run prisons

Contact the prison directly if you want to send money to someone in a privately-run prison.

You should contact the prison to find out about:

• what you need to do to arrange a visit to a convicted or remand prisoner
• their facilities - eg to check accessibility if you’re disabled
• what happens on the day

Prisons have different rules on things like when and how often you can visit - and the number of visitors allowed at the same time.

You can only visit a prisoner if they want you to visit them.

How often you can visit someone in prison

A convicted prisoner is allowed at least two 60-minute visits every 4 weeks.

A prisoner on remand (waiting for their trial) is allowed three 60-minute visits a week.

If you live a long way from the prison, you may be able to make longer visits, but less often.

You may get help with the cost of visiting a close relative or partner in prison if you’re aged over 18.

You may be eligible if you’re claiming:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Employment and Support Allowance
• Universal credit
• Tax credits
• Pension credit

You need to complete the application and send it to the address on the form to get help with travel costs. There are guidance notes for applying and also a confirmation of visit form which you should hand to a member of the prison visits staff.

You can also find out more by contacting the prison or the Assisted Prison Visits Unit.

Assisted Prison Visits Unit
assisted.prison.visits@noms.gsi.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 063 2100
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Find out about call charges

Or you can write to the Assisted Prison Visits Unit:

Assisted Prison Visits Unit
PO Box 2152
Birmingham
B15 1SD