You’ll quickly discover that everything in prison runs “by application” – a pre-printed form you fill in and hand to the wing office. It covers most routine requests and should get a response within 5 working days. The prison service is still largely paper-based (private prisons somewhat less so), so expect a steady stream of slips pushed under your cell door about visits, work, education and so on. Hang onto them – they’re often your authority to be let off the wing for a visit or medical appointment, and staff may not let you go without proof you were actually asked to attend.
The information on this page is based on the law in England & Wales. If you’re in Scotland, click here for the guide for your jurisdiction. (Northern Ireland guide coming soon.)
As a new prisoner it’s easy to get frustrated by how long things take, or by the sheer bureaucracy of it all. It helps to remember the prison’s primary job is to “carry out the instructions of the courts and keep you in custody” – that’s the day-to-day focus, not customer service.
When staff need to speak to you or pass on information, the usual method is a tannoy announcement. These systems aren’t exactly user-friendly, and it’s easy to mishear them, especially as they’re frequent and used to call people to work, meals, medical appointments and so on. If you miss one, an officer may come and find you, a message may get pushed under your door, or – less helpfully – it might just get missed, along with whatever it was calling you to.
More in this section:
| Accommodation | Cell Life |
| Phone and letters | Meals and Food |
| Drugs treatment | Personal clothing and equipment |
| Self Improvement | Learning to read |