This section pulls together everything on the site about what actually happens once someone is in custody – from the first days after arrival, through the day-to-day realities of prison life, to how the system around it (staff, rules, inspections) actually works. If you’re after something more specific – probation, ROTL, Breaking News, or an individual prison’s own page – you’ll find those in the main menu; this page is the index for the “inside” side of things.
Click on a link below to go straight to a section:
| The first weeks in custody – what happens from reception through induction. | Life behind the wall – cell life, meals, post & phone, and the day-to-day. |
| What family and friends can do to help – visits, staying in touch, and support. | How do prisons actually work? – prison types, IEPs, staff, timetables and the daily mechanics. |
| Prison Officers – who’s who among the staff you’ll deal with. | Prison Rules and Regulations – the rules prisoners are governed by. |
| Inspections, Complaints and the IMB – how prisons are checked on, and how to complain. | Transferring Prison – how and why prisoners get moved. |
| Minorities and non-English Speakers – support and provision for these groups. | |