Letters can matter more than people expect, on both sides of the wall. Here’s how post works in a Scottish prison, and how everyday requests get sorted out.
Addressing a letter. To make sure post reaches someone, address it with either their prison number, full name and the prison’s address, or their full name, date of birth and the prison’s address – for example: 090000, J Bloggs, HMP Low Moss, 190 Crosshill Road, Glasgow, G64 2QB. If you’re not sure which prison someone’s in, see our Finding Someone in a Scottish Prison page.
Photocopying and checks. As a security measure, all correspondence can be opened, read, and monitored, and in many prisons letters are now photocopied before being handed over, with the original either returned on release or destroyed. Photos and cards may also be scanned with a drug-detection machine. This can feel intrusive, but it applies to everyone’s post, not just yours – it’s part of how prisons try to stop drugs getting in through the mail.
Getting things done day to day. Most everyday requests inside a Scottish prison – from a change of cell to a specific course or activity – go through a written request, usually submitted through your Personal Officer or wing staff. If something’s gone wrong rather than just needing a request, see our Complaints and Independent Monitoring page for how to take it further.