prisoncheck

prisoncheckVisits · 6 min read

How do visits actually work?

Visitor lists, booking windows, ID, dress codes, video calls, and what to expect when you arrive.

  1. Two lists

    Two lists: theirs and the prison’s diary. You cannot book until you are on their visitor list. They cannot see you until a slot exists.

  2. Book and bring the right ID

    Book on GOV.UK or the prison’s booking line. Bring the ID the prison lists. Expired passports fail. Dress codes are enforced.

  3. First visit vs later visits

    First visits take longer because of the list. Later visits are a booking problem. Read the prison profile for local times before you travel.

  4. Video is a visit, not a PIN call

    Secure video calls are a visit on a phone or tablet, not a PIN call. You must already be on their visitor list. Search Which video app? for Prison Video or Purple Visits, the ID, and the clocks.

How long until the first visit?

It depends on the prison. The visitor list and the booking diary move at a different speed in each one. Find their prison to see how long families there waited.

Search your prison

Type part of the name, the town, or a postcode.

What next

Guide · 6 minSomeone has just gone in. What now?The first 72 hours are chaotic. This is the short version of what actually happens next.Guide · 4 minWhat can I send in?Remand or sentenced, what clothes are banned, how a parcel gets in, and books.Guide · 3 minWhat can children wear on a visit?Shorts, football shirts, and hoodies are the usual flashpoints. Official lists are local. Families say what actually got through.Guide · 2 minWhat are IEP levels?The level changes how much of your money they can use each week, and their visits. Basic, Standard and Enhanced. They start on Standard.ToolFirst visit checklistWhat to take tomorrow. Pick the prison first.