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  1. FAQs
  2. Keeping in touch with a prisoner

Keeping in touch with a prisoner

There are many ways you can keep in touch with your loved one in prison. For more information on our website please click here.

Can a prisoner call me?

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Prisoners can make outbound calls to you providing they have enough pin credit on their account. 

Published: 1st November, 2020

Updated: 20th November, 2020

Author: Louise Potter

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Letters

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You can communicate with your loved one in prison by writing letters to eachother. Each week a prisoner is allowed to send one free letter. If they want to send more than this then they need to purchase stamps and envelopes from the prison canteen. Alternatively, you can post self-addressed stamped envelopes to the prisoner so they can post letters back to you. If a prisoner is on remand then they are allowed to send 2 free letters a week.

Published: 2nd November, 2020

Updated: 20th November, 2020

Author: Louise Potter

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Email a prisoner

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You can send emails to a prisoner by signing up to Email a Prisoner. At some prisons you can pay a bit extra and the prisoner can reply via email (staff scan the reply) otherwise, prisoners can only reply by phone call or letter.

Published: 3rd November, 2020

Updated: 20th November, 2020

Author: Louise Potter

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Prison Voicemail

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You can leave a voicemail for a prisoner via Prison Voicemail. 

Published: 4th November, 2020

Updated: 20th November, 2020

Author: Louise Potter

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Urgent messages

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If you have an urgent message for a prisoner such as informing them of the death of a family member, you can call the prison switchboard and ask to speak to the Prison Chaplain. Prison Chaplains can usually pass on difficult messages like this and offer support to your loved one. 

Published: 5th November, 2020

Updated: 20th November, 2020

Author: Louise Potter

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Video calls

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Most prisons now offer Purple Visits video calls. In order to use this service, you will need to register online and then start booking your calls. You can do this by clicking here. 

Published: 6th November, 2020

Updated: 20th November, 2020

Author: Louise Potter

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Sending photos to a prisoner

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You can send photos of yourself and/or family members to your loved one in prison, but in some prisons, prisoners are not allowed photographs of themselves, including family photos that include them. Photographs of an explicit or pornographic nature will not be allowed and will be intercepted. Certain prisoners may not be permitted to have photographs of children. 

Published: 7th November, 2020

Updated: 14th December, 2020

Author: Louise Potter

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The National Prisoners’ Families Helpline is operated by Prison Advice and Care Trust under contract to Her Majesty’s Prison & Probation Service.

The NICCO website provides information for professionals who come into contact with the children and families of offenders.