Being in prison is a genuinely unpleasant experience for the vast majority of prisoners. It’s an alien environment – noisy, regimented and often frightening – and it can be a very lonely one too, cut off from family and friends. Nobody claims it’s easy for the partners, children, parents and friends left on the outside either, even though they at least keep their familiar surroundings.
Those inside often worry how their family will cope without them, financially and practically. If one partner has always done the cooking, or the other has always sorted the bills, something is going to suffer while they’re apart. History shows that those left on the outside invariably find a way through, but that’s little comfort while you’re living through the separation.
Many relationships come under real strain while one partner is in prison, and this website doesn’t pretend to have the answers – those are for the people involved to work through, often with help from organisations like Relate or the Samaritans. What we can do here is point you towards the practical things that help: how visits work, how to stay in touch between visits, and how to get support if you’re worried about someone inside.
If you’re ever seriously worried that a prisoner may be at risk of harm – to themselves or from others – don’t wait for a visit to raise it. Every prison has a safer custody team, and you can raise a concern by phoning the prison directly and asking to speak to them, or via the prison’s Listener scheme (Samaritan-trained prisoners who provide confidential peer support). The Samaritans can also be contacted directly, any time, on 116 123.
Follow the links below to find out more:
| Visiting Rules | Family Visits |
| Leave a Message | Travel Help & assistance |
| Eyes and Ears! | |