Prisons and probation
Find a prison
Get the address, visiting times and facilities of a particular prison by searching online or using an A-Z list.
Benefits and prison
What happens to benefits if you or someone in your family goes to prison or on remand
Probation
Probation is when you serve a court sentence in the community, and can include unpaid work or being supervised after coming out of prison
Types of prison sentences
The range of prison sentences a court can give - including suspended, fixed-term, indeterminate and life sentences.
Staying in touch with someone in prison
Visiting a prisoner - visiting times, keeping in touch by email, telephone or letter and banned items
Support for families and friends of prisoners
Helplines providing advice and support to the families of people in prison - including the Offenders’ Families Helpline and Action for Prisoners' Families
Prison life
What to expect if you're sent to prison - prison rules and regulations, healthcare and education, prisoner rights
Leaving prison
How a prisoner is released - including Parole Board hearings, resettlement schemes and temporary release on licence
Volunteer to check standards in prison
Join an Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) to volunteer to check standards in prisons - find out how to apply
Assisted Prison Visits Unit
Apply to the Assisted Prison Visits Unit for help with travel costs if you're visiting a close friend or relative in prison
Find a prisoner
Prisoner Location Service. Locating a prisoner when you don't know which prison - for families and friends