The visit
designing the prison visit experience

Resources

Film

A short film (Homeward Bound, 15 mins) will shortly be uploaded. If you are working on this project and would like to view it, please contact Janet Hawken for the password details.

Useful organisations and websites

HM Prison Service
www.hmprisonservice.gov.uk

This website provides information on every prison establishment in England and Wales as well as other useful organisation for families.

Home Office
www.homeoffice.gov.uk

This is the government department responsible protecting the public from terrorism, crime and anti-social behaviour.

Ministry of Justice
www.justice.gov.uk

The Ministry of Justice has responsibility for courts, probation, prisons, criminal law and sentencing.

NOMS (National Offender Management Service)
www.noms.homeoffice.gov.uk

This is part of the Ministry of Justice and is the system through which it commissions and provides the highest quality correctional services and interventions in order to protect the public and reduce re-offending.

Publications
An article about the Prison Service which appeared in the G2 supplement of The Guardian newspaper on Monday 12th March.
For their 14-page feature 'A Day Inside', The Guardian talked to 42 people, including prisoners and staff, about their experiences of prison life:

www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2007/mar/12/
ukcrime.prisonsandprobation1

www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2007/mar/12/
ukcrime.prisonsandprobation2

UK organisations working with the families of prisoners

PACT (The Prison Advice & Care Trust)
www.prisonadvice.org.uk

PACT supports people affected by imprisonment. It works with children and families of prisoners, and with prisoners inside and on release. On their website you can view a short film called ‘Who Cares?’ which provides a snapshot of pact’s work with prisoners and their families at HMP Wormwood Scrubs, London

Action for Prioners Families
www.prisonersfamilies.org.uk

This is the national federation of services supporting families of prisoners

Clinks
www.clinks.org

Supports voluntary organisations which work with offenders and their Families

Adfam
www.adfam.org.uk

A leading national organisation working with and for families affected by drugs and alcohol

Affect
www.affect.org.uk

An organisation for families and friends facing possible 'life' or long prison sentences

Contact Cheshire
www.contactcsg.org

Is a Cheshire support group for the families and friends of the accused

Families Outside
www.familiesoutside.org.uk

Works with families affected by imprisonment in Scotland

Helping Offenders Prisoners & Families
www.hopescotland.com

Works with prisoners and their families in Scotland

NEPACS
www.nepacs.co.uk

A north eastern-based charity which works with prisoners' families

Ormiston Children & Families Trust
www.ormiston.org

Provides support services to children and families in the Eastern region. It is one of the partners for the prisoners' families helpline

'Out There' Supporting Families Of Prisoners
www.outtheresfop.co.uk

'Out there' offers a free and confidential service for those serving the 'sentence on the outside'. It offers friendship, information and advice

Partners of Prisoners and Famlies Support Group (POPS)
www.partnersofprisoners.org.uk

Provides a variety of services to support anyone who has a link with someone in prison, prisoners and other agencies. It is one of the partners for the prisoners' families helpline

Prison Chat UK
www.prisonchatuk.com

Is an online community giving support to those who have a loved one inside the british prison system

Prisoners’ Families & Friends Service (PFFS)
www.prisonersfamiliesandfriends.org.uk

Provides the families and friends of anyone sentenced to imprisonment or remanded in custody with advice and information, help at court, support and friendship

Prisoners’ Families Helpline
www.prisonersfamilieshelpline.org.uk

Offers information and support to anyone with a relative or friend in prison

SHARP (Support, Help and Advice for Relatives and friends of Prisoners)
www.s-h-a-r-p.org.uk

Provides confidential help, advice, support and friendship for the relatives and friends of those serving sentences, awaiting trial or facing the prospect of legal action

Storybook Dads
www.storybookdads.co.uk

Based at Dartmoor prison, Storybook Dad, uses digital technology to enable prisoners to record stories for their children on CDs

NACRO
www.nacro.org.uk

Provides information for prisoners and their families. The booklet 'outside help' is free to prisoners and their families

Prison Fellowship
www.prisonfellowship.org.uk

Supports prisoners and families affected by imprisonment

Children, parenting and family organisations

Birth Companions
www.birthcompanions.org.uk

Provides trained and experienced birth supporters who support pregnant women in detention, during labour and after the birth of their babies. It works mainly in holloway prison although it is now expanding to provide support in the community to pregnant asylum seekers/refugees who have been released from detention

The Fatherhood Institute
www.fatherhoodinstitute.org

This section of the website looks at the impact on father and their families of the father's incarceration

Grandparents Plus
www.grandparentsplus.org.uk

Is a national charity which promotes the vital role of grandparents and the extended family in children’s lives, particularly where parents are no longer able to care for their children

MATCH (Mothers Apart from Their Children)
www.matchmothers.org

Aims to offer non-judgemental emotional support to mothers all over the world who are apart from their child for one or many reasons including imprisonment

Safe Ground
www.safeground.co.uk

Educates prisoners and young people at risk in the community and runs family man and fathers inside courses in prisons

Criminal justice organisations

The Butler Trust
www.thebutlertrust.org.uk

An independent charity which recognises excellence and innovation by people working with offenders in the UK

CCJS (Centre for Crime and Justice Studies)
www.crimeandjustice.org.uk

Is an independent charity at king's college london that informs and educates about all aspects of crime and the criminal justice system

Howard League for Penal Reform
www.howardleague.org

Works for a safe society where fewer people are victims of crime

Inquest
www.inguest.gn.apc.org

Campaigns against deaths in custody and provides advice and support to the families of people who have died in custody

Prison Reform Trust
www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk

Provides information on prison life, rules and regulations and prisoners' rights. It give advice and assistance to prisoners and their families up to a 'casework level'

Other organisations

Clean Break
www.clean-break.co.uk

Clean break uses theatre for personal and political change, working with women whose lives have been affected by the criminal justice system

Prison! Me! No Way! Trust
www.pmnw.co.uk

The work of prison! Me! No way! Trust aims to discourage young people from criminal activities

Bridging The Gap
www.btguk.org

Helps prisoners and ex-prisoners adjust to life outside

Writers In Prison Network
www.writersinprisonnetwork.org

Places writers and creative artists in prisons to deliver creative writing, drama, video, music, oral storytelling, journalism, creative reading and publishing programmes

Thames Valley Partnership
www.thamesvalleypartnership.org

Brings people and organisations together to create safer and stronger communities

Unlock
www.unlock.org.uk

Is the national association of reformed offenders. Its aim is to achieve equality for ex-offenders

Women in Prison
www.womeninprison.org.uk

Women in prison (WIP) is a charity working with women at risk of going to prison, in prison and after release to promote their resettlement, personal development, education and training

Government

Scottish Prison Service
www.sps.gov.uk

Website provides information on every prison establishment in Scotland as well as other useful organisation for families

HM Inspectorate of Prisons
www.inspectorates.homeoffice.gov.uk

Provides independent scrutiny of the conditions for and treatment of prisoners and other detainees

Parole Board
www.paroleboard.gov.uk

The Parole Board is an independent body that makes risk assessments about prisoners

Private prison companies

www.hmprisonservice.gov.uk/prisoninformation/privateprison/

Four private companies currently run a small number of UK prisons under contract to the home office's national offender management service and the Scottish prison service. You might decide to image one of these companies as your client

Kalyx
www.kalyxservices.com

Kalyx manage three prisons in England and is due to open HMP Addiewell in Scotland in December. As well as managing prisons they train and provide opportunities for prisoners to prepare for their release:

HMP Bronzefield
www.kalyxservices.com/locations/hmp_bronzefield.aspx

HMP Forest Bank
www.kalyxservices.com/locations/hmp_forest_bank.aspx

HMP Peterborough
www.kalyxservices.com/locations/hmp_peterborough.aspx

G4S Justice Services
www.g4s.com/uk/uk-justice/uk-justice-adult_custody/uk-justice-parc.html

Group 4 Security Justice Services manage one prison, HMP Young Offenders Institution Parc

Serco
www.serco.com

Serco manage four prisons:

Ashfield Young Offenders Institution
www.serco.com/markets/homeaffairs/
offendermanagement/juvenilecustody/ashfield/index.asp

Doncaster Prison
www.serco.com/markets/homeaffairs/
offendermanagement/adultcustody/doncaster/index.asp

Dovegate Prison
www.serco.com/markets/homeaffairs/
offendermanagement/adultcustody/dovegate/index.asp

Lowdham Grange Prison
www.serco.com/markets/homeaffairs/
offendermanagement/adultcustody/lowdham/index.asp
Global Solutions Limited (GSL)
www.gslglobal.com/

GSL manage three prisons: