How Can We Help? - Sources Of Help - Criminal Justice - The Prison Service

What is the Prison Service?

The modern Prison Service is based upon two simple functions which it carries out for the benefit of society as a whole:

• to hold individuals committed by the courts in a safe environment and thereby protect the public
• to reduce crime by promoting law abiding behaviour in custody, and providing productive activities that rehabilitate and educate individuals ready for release.

To ensure that these functions are carried out effectively, HM Inspectorate of Prisons, who report directly to the Home Office, carry out around 20 full prison inspections each year. In addition, the Home Secretary appoints a Prisons Ombudsman whose function it is to hear the complaints of prisoners that could not be resolved using internal procedures.

Offenders are classified within one of four security categories A, B, C or D. These categories define the severity of the individual's crime and the risk posed to the public if he/she should escape.

Category A offenders are the most dangerous prisoners whose escape would present a huge threat to the public and the nation.

Category B prisoners pose less of a threat to the public, but they are still dangerous enough to warrant quite high levels of security.

Category C offenders are considered to lack the skills or the desire to escape so they are deemed a minimal threat to the public. The remaining prisoners, those who do not pose a risk to the public and are also unlikely to escape are called Category D.

Category A, B and C prisoners are held in what are termed 'Closed' prisons, whereas Category D prisoners are held in 'Open' prisons. Women prisoners and young offenders (anyone aged between 15 to 21) are not categorised like adult male offenders.

Where do I find out about visiting an individual who is in prison?

If you wish to trace someone who you believe is in prison custody but do not know his or her exact whereabouts a service has been developed called the Prisoner Location Service that can help you.

There are no prisons located in North Wales so you will need to find out where the person is being kept.

• Prison location

Provides an interactive map where you can locate details of the prison you require.

Once you have navigated to the prison you require, look at your left hand side of the page where you will see a link to visiting information. This will provide you with details of location, visiting times and contact phone numbers.

I have never visited a prison what do I do?

A visitor’s guide to prison visiting can be found here

Action for Prisoners' Families promotes the just treatment of prisoners' families by the prison system and society across the UK. It encourages the development of, and acts as a voice for, organisations providing support to these families.