Those on the outside can offer a huge amount of comfort and support just by staying in regular contact. Nearly all prisoners crave contact with the outside world, especially anyone with young children, and there’s no limit on how many letters you can send, or how long they can be – post is always well received, and enclosing a few books of stamps will encourage more replies.
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. If you’re in Northern Ireland, click here for that guide.
Most prisons won’t let you post items in to a prisoner – anything sent that way is either returned to you or held in storage until release. What you can do is bring things in on a visit, subject to the prison’s rules on what’s allowed; check the individual prison’s page on this site, or ask the visitors’ centre, for the specifics.
Before you can visit at all, the prisoner has to add you to their approved visitor list – this is done from their end, not yours, so ask them to sort it as soon as possible after reception. Once you’re approved you’ll be given an Official Visitor Number, which you’ll need every time you book.
Most prisons now let you book a visit either online through the prison’s own booking page, or by phone through the prison’s dedicated visitor booking line (not the switchboard) – check the individual prison’s page on this site for which applies. You can typically book up to 28 days ahead, and it’s worth booking early for weekends, which fill up fastest.
You’ll need to bring proper ID. Adults need two things: photo ID (a passport, driving licence, or photocard bus pass) and proof of address (a utility bill, council tax bill or bank statement, normally dated within the last three months). Children need to be included on the booking; if they don’t have photo ID of their own, bring their birth certificate or Red Book instead.
Arrive in good time, as you’ll be searched before you go in – anything from an airport-style pat-down and a drugs dog to, occasionally, a full search. It’s undignified and unpleasant for everyone involved, prison officer included, but the sensible approach is to grin and bear it; refusing a search means you won’t be allowed in.
Check with the prison what you’re allowed to take into the visits hall. Mobile phones, tablets and other electronic items are never permitted. Cash rules vary between prisons – some allow none at all, some allow coins only, and others convert your money into tokens at the door which you use to buy tea, coffee and snacks during the visit.
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