What to expect from life in prison

Life in prison is different at each prison. This guide explains what may happen in an adult prison in England or Wales, but your daily routine, time out of cell, activities, visits, property and support depend on your prison and your circumstances.

Ask staff for your local timetable, prison rules and information about the services available to you.

This guide provides general information, not legal advice. Rules can differ for people on remand, recalled prisoners, women, young adults and children in custody.

Your first days in prison

When you arrive, staff will carry out reception and early days checks. This may include recording your property, asking about health and medication, checking whether you feel safe, and explaining basic prison rules.

Tell staff straight away if you:

You should receive induction information about daily routine, healthcare, visits, telephone calls, education, work, faith support and how to make a complaint.

A typical day

Your day may include meals, personal care, work, education, healthcare appointments, exercise, worship, visits, telephone calls and time in your cell.

The timetable differs between prisons and can change because of staffing, security, weather, appointments or other operational reasons. Ask staff for your wing’s daily timetable.

Accommodation and time in cell

Accommodation differs between prisons. You may have a single cell or share with another person. The amount of time you spend in your cell and the time you have for association or activities depend on the prison regime and your circumstances.

If you feel unsafe sharing a cell, tell staff immediately. Staff should assess the risk and decide what support or location is appropriate.

If you feel unsafe or need urgent help

Tell any officer, healthcare worker, key worker or safer custody staff immediately if you think you may harm yourself, someone may harm you, or you are being bullied, threatened, exploited or abused.

Ask to speak to healthcare or safer custody staff. Do not wait for a written request or complaint. If you are worried about another person, tell staff what you have seen or heard and ask for the concern to be recorded.

See GOV.UK: Prison Safety Policy Framework.

Food, exercise and personal care

Food and diet

Prisons provide regular meals. Tell staff about dietary needs linked to health, religion, culture or ethical beliefs.

The menu, ordering system, meal times, where meals are eaten and access to shop food vary between prisons. If you cannot eat the food provided, tell catering staff, healthcare or wing staff. If the problem is not resolved, use the prison complaints process.

The national policy framework is Food in Prisons.

Exercise and time outside

Prisons should provide opportunities for exercise and time in the open air. The timing, location and activities available depend on the local regime, weather, staffing, security and your health needs.

Tell healthcare or wing staff if a disability or health condition affects your ability to take part. Some prisons offer gym sessions, sport or other physical activities, but availability differs between prisons.

Personal care

The prison provides basic items for personal care. Ask wing staff if you do not have what you need or if you need an item because of a health condition, disability, pregnancy or religion.

Healthcare and medication

Tell reception or healthcare staff about medication, a health condition, mental health needs, drug or alcohol use, pregnancy, disability or learning difficulty.

Healthcare staff assess what treatment and support are appropriate. Appointment times, specialist services and medication arrangements can differ between prisons. Do not share medication with anyone else.

Take essential medical items, such as glasses, and tell staff about all medicines you use. Staff and healthcare will check what can be kept, stored or supplied. A prescription or doctor’s letter may help identify your medication, but it does not guarantee that you can keep or use your own supply.

For England, prison healthcare is commissioned through NHS England’s health and justice system. See NHS England: Health and Justice. Healthcare arrangements in Wales are different.

Work, education and programmes

You may be offered prison work, education, training or a rehabilitative programme. What is available depends on the prison, your sentence plan, your needs, suitability, security arrangements and available places.

Offending Behaviour Programmes are structured courses designed to address particular risks or needs. They are not automatically available to everyone.

Ask staff what work, education, training, library services and programmes are available to you, and whether there is a waiting list.

The National Framework for Interventions applies in England and Wales. The Prison Education and Library Services Policy Framework applies to adult prisons in England; separate arrangements apply in Wales.

Incentives and privileges

Your prison may use an incentives scheme. The scheme can affect some privileges, but the rules and available privileges differ between prisons.

Your incentive level is not the only factor in decisions about your cell, visits, activities or support. Safety, health, disability, security and available space can also matter. Ask staff for a copy or explanation of your prison’s incentives scheme.

Basic legal entitlements should not depend on your incentive level. See GOV.UK: Incentives Policy Framework.

Keeping in touch

You can usually keep in touch with family and friends through letters, telephone calls and visits. Some prisons also offer secure video calls.

Telephone calls, letters, visits and video calls are subject to prison rules, approved contact arrangements and safety or security restrictions. Video calls supplement other contact; they are not available in every prison or to every person.

Ask your prison how to add telephone numbers, book visits, send letters and use video calls. Family and friends should check the specific prison’s GOV.UK page before travelling.

Contacting a solicitor

You can write to and receive letters from your legal adviser. Legal correspondence is normally handled confidentially, but the prison may have procedures to check that it is genuinely legal correspondence and to manage security risks.

Ask staff how confidential legal mail is marked, sent and handled at your prison. Legal visits are different from social visits and should normally allow you to speak to your legal adviser without being overheard, although staff may remain able to see the meeting.

See GOV.UK: Secure Social Video Calling Policy Framework and Prison Rules 1999.

Money and the prison shop

Basic needs are provided by the prison. You may have a prison account for money brought in on arrival, earned in prison or sent by approved methods. You may be able to use it for permitted items, such as shop purchases or phone credit.

Spending limits, shop access and approved items vary by prison and may be affected by local rules. Family and friends can usually use the official service to send money to someone in prison.

Property and belongings

Rules about clothing, property, parcels and electrical items differ between prisons. Property may be stored, sent out, retained or dealt with in another way depending on what it is and why it is restricted.

Do not assume that a family member can bring an item to the prison. Check with the prison first. You should keep a record of valuable property and raise any loss, damage or dispute as soon as possible.

See GOV.UK: Prisoners’ Property Policy Framework.

Religion, belief and pastoral care

You should be able to practise your religion or belief in prison. You can ask for contact with chaplaincy or pastoral support, worship where available, religious texts and a faith related diet.

You can also ask for pastoral support if you have no religion. The practical arrangements vary between prisons and may be subject to safety, security and operational requirements.

See GOV.UK: Faith and Pastoral Care for Prisoners.

If something is wrong

You can raise concerns about prison conditions, property, staff conduct, food, healthcare access, work, visits or other daily issues. Ask how to make a complaint at your prison.

If you cannot write, need an interpreter, need an accessible form or need help because of disability or literacy difficulties, tell staff. You should be able to get help to make the complaint.

If you remain dissatisfied after using the prison’s internal process, you may be able to complain to the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman. Check PPO: who can complain for the current process and time limits.

See also GOV.UK: Prisoner Complaints Policy Framework.

Check with your prison

Ask about:

You can find prison information through GOV.UK: prisons and probation.

Key points to remember

Official sources

This guide provides general information, not legal advice. The local prison’s rules and current information will apply to your circumstances.