The exact shape of induction varies from prison to prison, but they all cover similar ground. You’ll attend talks and presentations on the prison’s rules, what work or education is on offer, and how visits work. The better inductions will also cover practical things like how to change your kit, get clothes brought in, book visits, get money sent in, and the timetables for canteen, gym and library – though the quality varies a lot. If you’re in an induction group where most people have done time before, the officer running it may rush through the basics because the rest of the room already knows it and isn’t really listening. If there’s something you don’t understand or want to know more about, ask.
The information on this page is based on the law in England & Wales. If you’re in Scotland or Northern Ireland, click here for the guide for your jurisdiction.
As part of induction, you’ll usually meet the chaplaincy, the drug and alcohol team, the medical team, education, probation and the gym.
The chaplaincy looks after your religious and spiritual wellbeing. There’ll be support available for every faith, and chaplaincy can be a real source of support for a lot of prisoners. They can tell you the times of religious services at the prison and arrange with your wing officers for you to attend.
The drug and alcohol team matters more than you might expect. Even if you’ve no history of substance use and your offence has nothing to do with drink or drugs, you’ll usually still be expected to meet them – skipping it can leave a black mark on your record that may be taken into account later, for example when decisions are made about release on licence or any form of temporary or early release. If you do have issues with drugs or alcohol, they’re there to help.
The medical team will give you a brief check-up – don’t expect Harley Street levels of attention, they’re mainly concerned with your immediate wellbeing and whether you’re fit for work or education.
Education makes up a large part of prison life. You’ll be asked to complete a questionnaire about your educational background, then sit some basic tests in reading and maths. Every prison offers courses to improve these, including English for speakers of other languages, plus a range of other courses depending on where you’re held – anything from cookery to bricklaying to creative writing to customer service. Education departments are largely focused on courses that lead to funded qualifications; if you fancy learning something outside that (French, say), you’ll usually need to arrange and fund it yourself.
Probation is a core part of the system. Most prisoners serve only part of their sentence in custody, with the rest supervised in the community. Within your first few days you’ll meet a probation officer to agree what courses and goals you should work towards during your sentence, to support a safe, law-abiding return to the community. Remember that the rules around release on licence, tagging and early release have changed a fair bit recently and keep changing, so ask your probation officer or Prison Offender Manager for the current position rather than relying on what you may have heard from other prisoners.
The gym is a popular facility. As on the outside, you’ll need to do a gym induction before you can use it. Many prisons have limited capacity and a waiting list, so it’s worth completing the induction even if you’re not especially interested in fitness, just to keep the option open.
| Insiders at Court | Transport to the prison |
| Arrival at the prison | Initial Phone Call |
| Moving to the wing/cell | First Night |
| Personal Officer | Phone credit and money |
| Working in the prison | |