Keeping in touch by phone and mail
Can prisoners make telephone calls to people outside?Yes. There are telephones in the prison which prisoners can use to telephone their families and friends. However, they will not be able to call whenever they like - there will probably be restrictions on the times of day the phones can be used. It is also likely there will be queues for the phone, or a booking system where they book a time to make their calls. A prisoner may be allowed more calls or telephone time under the incentives and earned privileges scheme. Those with close family abroad are usually allowed to make a five-minute call from an official phone once a month, but will be expected to pay for it. Restrictions on access to private cash may be waived if someone want to phone close relatives abroad.
Can I phone and speak to them?
It is not possible to make a direct phone call to a prisoner.
How are the calls paid for?
Many prisons have a PIN number system on the Prisoners' telephones. They are given their own personal number and must nominate phone numbers which they will call. These will then be put on the PIN system by prison staff. There are some numbers which are barred on the PIN phone system. These will usually be national newspapers and in some cases witnesses/victims.If phone cards are used, they are special prison phonecards and not the ones you can buy outside. If you want to help a prisoners with the cost of phone calls, you will need to send money in the form of a postal order or cheque.
What if the prisoner needs to get in touch with someone in an emergency?
If a prisoner needs to contact their lawyer urgently, or anyone else for very strong compassionate reasons, they may, at the governor's discretion, be allowed to use an official telephone.
Do prison staff listen to inmates telephone calls?
Not all the time, but prison officers can listen to a random number of calls, except in an open prison. All calls by high risk Category A prisoners are monitored. Officers can hear both sides of the conversation and can record it. Officers may terminate a call if the call contains anything that:
Prison staff do not listen to calls to the Samaritans.
Can I write to a prisoner as often as I like?
There is not usually any restriction on the number of letters a prisoner can receive. When you write, remember to put the person's name and prison number on the letter.
Can the prisoner write to me?
Yes. The prisoner will be allowed to send one free letter each week, or two if they are on remand. If they want to write more often they can, but will have to pay for the postage themselves.
Will prison officers read the letters?
Usually the prison will only open the envelope to make sure there is nothing being sent in which is not allowed. However, incoming and outgoing mail may be read in maximum security prisons. In other prisons the governor may order routine reading of mail from time to time. As with telephone calls, letters must not contain anything that:
Letters can be stopped or restricted if these rules are broken.
What if I don't want the prisoner to write to me any more?
You can tell the prison that you no longer wish to receive mail from the person and they will be asked to stop writing.
Can I send money to a prisoner?
Yes - send a cheque or a postal order and write the prisoner's name and prison number on hte back. Most establishments have their own bank accounts and ask for cheques/POs to be made payable to "The Governor". However, the Prison Service is making changes to its banking system. From May 2004, if the prisoners is in a high security prison, cheques and postals orders need to be made out to "HM Prison Service, Abell House". From July 2004, prisons in London, Kent, Surrey and Sussex will start using the central account, and cheques/PO's to these will need to be made out to HM Prison Service. All other prisons will transfer to this system from April 2005. If you are in any doubt as to who to make checks payable to, please phone the prison and check. The money will be transfered into the prisoner's private account. The amount of spending money a prisoner is allowed each week depends on whether they are on remand or convicted ,and the privilige level they are on.
Can I send photographs of myself or the children?
Yes, but do remember that prisoners are not allowed photographs of themselves, and that includes family snapshots that include them. Photographs of an explicit or pornographic nature would not be allowed.
Can I send the prisoner clothes, toiletries or gifts?
Every prison has different rules about what can be sent in for inmates, and these rules can change at short notice. If there is something you want to send, you will need to contact the prison or visitor's centre and check whether the item can be posted in or handed in on a visit. Some prisons will only allow money to be sent and nothing else.
It is strongly recommended that any gifts or money being sent into the prison be sent by recorded delivery.
Can I email a prisoner?
The organisation Email a Prisoner (EMAP)has systems set up in a number of prisons which enable emails to be sent to prisoners. Messages cost 25p each. This system does not provide a direct email to the prisoner but to the prison post room where the email is put in an envelope and delivered to the prisoner with the rest of the correspondence.
To find out if you can take advantage of this service log on to www.emailaprisoner.com
Can a prisoner email me?
No, at present there is no facility for prisoners to email out.
(January 2009)