The Prisoners’ Families Helpline can support you if you have a family member who is in contact with the criminal justice system in England and Wales. We provide advice and information on all aspects of the justice system, from what happens when a loved one is arrested, to visiting a prison, to preparing for release. Our team is made up of highly trained, skilled staff and volunteers with professional and personal experience of the criminal justice system. They can provide practical information, emotional support, and refer you to additional support should you need it. This is a free, confidential service - you do not have to give your name if you do not want to, and any information you do give us is kept confidential. 

Here you can find information about organisations who can support you in Scotland and Northern Ireland on our website.

Helpline opening hours 

For help or advice please contact the Helpline on 0808 808 2003 (Freephone: including most mobiles). The Helpline is open 9am – 8pm Monday to Friday and 10am – 3pm Saturday and Sunday. Please note the Helpline is closed on Bank Holidays.

Contact us via email

You can contact the Helpline team via email on [email protected] We aim to respond to emails within 3 working days. If you have urgent concerns about the safety of a prisoner, please report this to the prison safer custody team directly.

Contact us via our webform

You can also contact the Helpline team through our webform. Simply fill out the form and our Helpline team will respond to your query within 3 working days.