Archive Website of the UK government

Charities that support families and friends of prisoners

Action for Prisoners’ Families is a national charity that provides support for prisoners' families.

It also gives information to relatives or friends of people in prison in England and Wales. Its website has a full list of other support organisations.

One organisation - Partners of Prisoners and Families Support Group (POPS) - runs the Offenders’ Families Helpline. You can call the helpline for free on 0808 808 2003. Lines are open Monday to Friday 9.00 am to 8.00 pm, Saturday and Sunday 10.00 am to 3.00 pm.

• Action for Prisoners' Families Opens new window

• Partners of Prisoners and Families Support Group (POPS) Opens new window

• Offenders’ Families Helpline Opens new window

• Prisoners' Families and Friends Service Opens new window

Contacting a prison if you’re worried about someone

If you’re worried about someone you know in prison, you can:

• tell a member of prison staff when you visit your friend or family member
• contact the 'Safer Custody Team' or the ‘Duty Governor’ at the prison during normal hours
• contact the ‘Orderly Officer’ at the prison out of hours

Some prisons run confidential Safer Custody hotlines where you can leave a message explaining any concerns. You can tell the prison anything you think would help prison staff support the prisoner.

Follow the link below to get contact details of individual prisons.

• Prison finder - search using the A to Z list or by region Opens new window

Information on prison life in other languages

Information on prison life should be available in a number of languages within the prison.

If the prisoner's family does not speak English information on prison life is available in several foreign languages.

Visit the Prison Reform Trust website to download the ‘Prisoners’ Information Book’.

• Prisoners’ Information Book Opens new window

If a prisoner is unhappy with their treatment

There are different ways a prisoner can complain about their treatment in prison. They must complain themselves by, for example:

• speaking informally to a member of prison staff - most problems are dealt with this way
• making a written complaint to the prison - complaint forms are available in the prison
• speaking to a member of the Independent Monitoring Board

The Independent Monitoring Board is separate from the Prison Service and is made up of members of the public. It monitors (‘checks up on’) how local prisons are run.

If you know someone in prison, you can write to the prisoner’s solicitor or Member of Parliament on their behalf.

See ‘Prisoners’ rights and complaining about a prison’ to find out more.

• Prisoners' rights and complaining about a prison

• Find a legal adviser Opens new window

Support when someone is released from prison

How and when prisoners are released from prison depends on their sentence. They may have to stick to certain rules once they are released. For example, about where they live and who they are allowed to get in contact with.

This can sometimes affect their families and friends.

Nacro is a charity that helps people after their release from prison - for example, to get housing.

• When a prisoner may be eligible for release

• Nacro - advice on when someone is released from prison Opens new window

The Prison Reform Trust

The Prison Reform Trust is separate from the Prison Service and may also be able to help if you're worried about someone’s treatment in prison.

It cannot help with cases of wrongful conviction and when someone wants to appeal against their conviction.

• Prison Reform Trust Opens new window