Encouraging good behaviour in prisons

Prisoners who follow the rules can earn privileges if they behave well. This is called the ‘Incentives and Earned Privileges Scheme’.

For example, a prisoner may be able to:

· get more visits from family or friends

· be allowed to spend more money each week

Privileges are different in each prison - prison staff can explain to the prisoner how the scheme works.

What happens if a prisoner breaks the rules

A prisoner who breaks prison rules - for example by assaulting someone or having a banned item in their cell - is normally punished. The punishment will depend on the offence.

If a prisoner is found guilty of breaking prison rules, they can be:

· kept in their cell for up to 21 days (adults) or ten days (young offenders)

· given up to 42 extra days in prison on top of their original sentence

The prison can also take away the prisoner’s privileges by, for example:

· stopping extra visits from family and friends

· removing a TV from their cell

· deducting pay the prisoner earns working in the prison

How to keep in touch with a prisoner

There are several ways of keeping in touch with someone in prison, including:

· sending letters

· making telephone calls

· visiting them

Learning and working in prison

A prisoner can learn skills and get qualifications in prison

A prisoner can learn skills and get qualifications while in prison. These can help them get a job when they leave prison. Courses and work schemes could include:

· learning to read or write

· woodwork

· engineering

· gardening

A prisoner may also be paid for the work they do while in prison.

Being released from prison

When a prisoner is released from prison depends on the type of sentence they were given.

Types of prison and security categories

The type of prison offenders are sent to depends on their crime and their sentence. The risk of harm to the public and how likely offenders are to try to escape are also important considerations. Find out more about the different types of prison and security categories.

Closed and open prisons

Closed and open prisons have different levels of security

There are two main types of prison - closed and open prisons.

Closed prisons - how they work

Closed prisons have a secure perimeter (a high fence or wall) to stop prisoners from escaping.

Prisoners’ movement within the prison is controlled by prison staff. Prisoners are locked in their cells at night and sometimes during parts of the day.

Дата добавления: 2015-10-28