Archive Website of the UK government

What happens when someone arrives at prison

When someone’s convicted and sent to prison by a court, they’re first sent to a prison near the court where they were convicted.

When they arrive, checks take place to make sure they have everything they need and to highlight any problems, like a medical condition.

• Arriving at prison

Deciding which prison someone is kept in

The prisoner is assessed at the first prison they arrive at. This assessment leads to a decision about which type of prison they serve their sentence at.

• Types of prison and security categories

Prisoners' rights

All prisoners have certain rights. These include:

• the right to food and water
• protection from bullying and racial harassment
• being able to get in contact with a solicitor
• healthcare - including support for prisoners with a mental health condition

• Prisoners' rights and complaining about a prison

• Healthcare in prison

• Help for prisoners with a mental health condition

What a prisoner can keep in their prison cell

Each prison has its own rules about what a prisoner can keep in their cell. They may be able to keep things such as:

• newspapers, books and magazines
• a stereo, or something to play music on, and earphones
• writing and drawing materials

Prison staff can search a cell at any time, without warning. They can punish a prisoner if any banned items are found - for example, illegal drugs or alcohol.

Smoking in a prison cell

A prisoner is allowed to smoke in their own cell, but they aren’t allowed to smoke anywhere else inside the prison building.

A non-smoking prisoner doesn’t have to share a cell with a prisoner who smokes.

Spending time outside the prison building

All prisoners should be able to spend between 30 minutes and an hour outside in the open air each day.

The exact time allowed is different for each prison.

Having money in prison

Prisoners can’t keep cash with them while they are in prison.

The prison keeps money on their behalf in a private cash account. Relatives or friends of the prisoner can send money into these accounts.

Prison staff decide how much money a prisoner can spend, depending on how well the prisoner behaves.

If money is available in their private cash account, a convicted prisoner can have access to one of the following amounts a week:

• £4
• £15.50
• £25.50

If money is available in their private cash account, a prisoner on remand can have access to one of the following amounts a week:

• £22
• £47.50
• £51

Being 'on remand' means the prisoner is waiting for their trial.

Prison shops

Most prisons have a shop where things like toothpaste, deodorant, snacks and postage stamps can be bought.

• Keeping in touch with someone in prison - including sending money

Encouraging good behaviour in prisons

Prisoners who follow the rules can earn privileges if they behave well. This is called the ‘Incentives and Earned Privileges Scheme’.

For example, a prisoner may be able to:

• get more visits from family or friends
• be allowed to spend more money each week

Privileges are different in each prison - prison staff can explain to the prisoner how the scheme works.

What happens if a prisoner breaks the rules

A prisoner who breaks prison rules - for example by assaulting someone or having a banned item in their cell - is normally punished. The punishment will depend on the offence.

If a prisoner is found guilty of breaking prison rules, they can be:

• kept in their cell for up to 21 days (adults) or ten days (young offenders)
• given up to 42 extra days in prison on top of their original sentence

The prison can also take away the prisoner’s privileges by, for example:

• stopping extra visits from family and friends
• removing a TV from their cell
• deducting pay the prisoner earns working in the prison

How to keep in touch with a prisoner

There are several ways of keeping in touch with someone in prison, including:

• sending letters
• making telephone calls
• visiting them

• Keeping in touch with someone in prison

• Support for families and friends of prisoners

• Visiting someone in prison

Learning and working in prison

A prisoner can learn skills and get qualifications while in prison. These can help them get a job when they leave prison. Courses and work schemes could include:

• learning to read or write
• woodwork
• engineering
• gardening

A prisoner may also be paid for the work they do while in prison.

• Education, training and working in prison

Being released from prison

When a prisoner is released from prison depends on the type of sentence they were given.

• When a prisoner may be eligible for release

• How Parole Board hearings work