Keeping In Touch

Many prisoners say that being separated from their family and friends is the hardest part of serving a prison sentence.

The Prison Service recognises the importance of family and friends maintaining close links and it is a key element of any resettlement plan.

Telephones for prisoner use are provided on each landing and there is no restriction on the number of calls a person can make. The telephones only make outgoing calls. Each prisoner is issued with his or her own pin number and prisoners can provide up to 10 telephone numbers which are stored on the system for them to call.

There is no restriction on the number of letters that a prisoner can send to their family and friends.

Most sentenced prisoners receive weekly visits, the frequency and duration of which depends on regime level.

Remand prisoners are entitled to 3 visits per week.

The Prison Service also operates a range of temporary release schemes to prepare prisoners for final release from custody and also to enable the Service to respond to circumstances around family bereavement and very serious illness.

Useful links:

Making a prison visit – http://www.niprisonservice.gov.uk/booking.htm

Pre-release home and resettlement leave policy - http://www.niprisonservice.gov.uk/pdfs/PubUploads/Revised_Home_Leave_Circular_April_2005.pdf