Can a prisoner call me? Expand Prisoners have to submit an application to get all their phone numbers approved by the security team in the prison. The security team then needs to call the numbers to verify, so this usually takes a few days to complete before a prisoner can make outbound calls. Once approved, they can make outbound calls to loved ones, providing they have enough PIN phone credit on their account. The cost of the calls for prisoners is (since Sept 2021): To a landline (weekday) - 3.1 ppm (pence per minute) To a landline (weekend) - 2.75 ppm To a mobile (weekday) - 6.88 ppm To a mobile (weekend) - 4.5 ppm
Write a letter Expand You can communicate with your loved one in prison by writing letters to each other. Each week a prisoner is allowed to send one free letter. If they want to send more than this, they need to purchase stamps and envelopes from the prison canteen, which is usually done weekly. If a prisoner is on remand, then they are allowed to send 2 free letters a week.
Email a prisoner Expand You can send emails to your loved one by signing up to Email a Prisoner: https://www.emailaprisoner.com/. At some prisons, prisoners can reply directly through the kiosk/in-cell devices. In other prisons, staff print the email, the prisoner writes a reply, and the staff scan and send it via email. You can only use this service if you have your loved one's prisoner number. Email a Prisoner also has an app called eMates. You can find more information on their website.
Prison Voicemail Expand You can leave a voicemail for your loved one via Prison Voicemail: https://prisonvoicemail.com/. There is also an option for your loved one to call you via the Prison Voicemail app, which is cheaper than calling a mobile phone. You can find more information at https://prisonvoicemail.com/. You will need your loved one's prisoner number to use Prison Voicemail.
I have an urgent message Expand If you have an urgent message for a prisoner, such as informing them of a family member's death, a serious incident, or positive news such as a birth, prison chaplains can usually pass on the information and offer support when needed. You can call the prison switchboard and ask to speak to the chaplaincy team. You can also speak to the family services team. If you have an urgent message but do not know the location of the prisoner, you should mark your email as URGENT and send it to the Find a Prisoner team, who will then pass it on to the chaplaincy team at your loved one's prison.
Video calls Expand Most prisons offer social video calls. To have a video call, you will need either the Prison Video app or the Purple Visits app installed on your smartphone or tablet. You can read more about how to use the service on Gov.UK. You will need to register for an account with either app, and your details and your loved one's details will need to be approved by the prison. You must also be on your loved one's approved contact list. Booking is either family-led (calls are booked by you) or prison-led (calls are booked by the prisoner). You can find out how your loved one's prison works on Gov.UK.
Can I send photos or cards? Expand You can post photos of your loved one's family members, but in some prisons, prisoners are not allowed to take photographs of themselves, which includes family snapshots. You can check with the family services team. Photographs of an explicit or pornographic nature are not permitted. Certain prisoners may not be permitted to have photographs of children due to their offence/restrictions. Greeting cards are usually acceptable to send, although if posted by a loved one, the prison will photocopy the card and give it to the prisoner (for drug prevention reasons). Most prisons accept cards ordered via online companies, but you can check this with the family services team to avoid disappointment.