Arriving In Prison

Anyone remanded in custody or given a custodial sentence will be taken either by the police or Prisoner Escort Group directly from court to Maghaberry or Hydebank Wood. Those escorted by the Prisoner Escort Group would generally be taken from court to the establishment in a cellular vehicle and would be handcuffed during this journey. Some people returning from bail may come directly to the prison.

Reception

You will be taken to the prison reception. At Hydebank Wood there are separate reception facilities for males and females.

Your warrant will be checked before you are officially taken into prison custody. After that your personal details will be recorded, for example, your full name, address, national insurance number and next of kin details.

All prisoners are issued with a unique prison number which is a letter followed by four digits. The number for all female prisoners begins with an ‘F’, young offenders with ‘H’ and adult males ‘C’. This number is used on all correspondence about you when you are in prison.

You will also be weighed and your height and any distinguishing marks noted on an index card. You can also expect to be searched and you will be offered a shower. Any property that you have with you that is not permitted in prison will be stored for you until your release. If you do not have sufficient or suitable clothes you will be issued with prison clothing and some toiletries and bedding.

If appropriate, you can contact the establishment in advance to check what you are permitted to bring with you.

All new committals are seen by a Governor and prison healthcare staff when they first arrive in prison.

Shortly after arriving on the landing, prison staff will check that your family know where you are and, if not, they will either allow you to contact them, or do this on your behalf.

If you have any other worries and concerns you should speak prison staff and let them know if something is bothering you.

Induction

All prisoners go through an induction programme much like you would starting a new job or school/College. In prison this will tell you about the support available in prison to help you get a job, improve your education, deal with any substance abuse problems and, closer to the time of your release, things like housing and benefits etc.

Thereafter you will work with prison officers, teachers, probation, psychology and other specialist staff to address the problems that lead you to committing a crime. This work is set out in a resettlement plan. Your family can also become involved in this.

A prison is really like a small community within the community in that all the things you would expect to find in a small town such as a library, healthcare centre, kitchen, shop, school and chapel can also be found in a prison.

Useful links:

Resettlement policy - http://www.niprisonservice.gov.uk/pdfs/PubUploads/NIPS_Resettle%20Strategy_June04.pdf

A typical cell

The room is 3mx2m…

…has a window…

….will be fitted with a wash hand basin, polycarbonate mirror and some cells have toilets…

….for furniture you will have a bed, bedside locker, wardrobe, desk, chair and 2 chairs…

…you will also have a notice board and a shelf for books.

Useful link:

Virtual cell tour - http://www.niprisonservice.gov.uk/virt_tours.cfm