Going to Prison as a Sex Offender in the UK: What to Expect from a Vulnerable Prisoner Wing.

For some Safer Lives clients, prison is a distinct possibility or inevitability. Understandably, the prospect of imprisonment can be frightening, particularly for someone who has never experienced prison or the criminal justice system before.

This blog explains what to expect during the first 24 hours in prison, the first week and beyond. It draws on Safer Lives director Andy Green’s experience of working in Category A, B and C prisons in England.

The first 24 hours in prison

Immediately before the court passes sentence, the sudden appearance of security staff beside you would signal that you are about to receive a prison sentence. They will escort you to a holding cell while arrangements are made for transport to a local Category B prison, in a secure escort vehicle.

‘Local prisons’ are frequently older institutions such as HMP Leeds (Armley), HMP Birmingham (Winson Green), HMP Wormwood Scrubs or HMP Bristol. They are often situated in the same or nearest city or town as the court.

On arrival, you will be taken to the prison’s Reception department for administrative and security procedures, including being assigned a unique prison number. You will undergo a strip search and checks, and your personal property will be recorded. Items that are not permitted are stored securely in a ‘private property’ bag that goes with you on any future prison moves.

It is worth taking a notepad containing essential information, particularly telephone numbers and addresses of close family and friends, as you will not be allowed access to your mobile phone in prison.

From Reception, you will usually be taken to first-night accommodation for further assessment and processing. This includes healthcare checks and questions about your personal circumstances, including housing, dependants and any urgent matters requiring attention outside prison, such as any caring responsibilities.

Prison and healthcare staff will assess your medical needs, vulnerability and risk of self-harm or suicide. If you have concerns about your physical or mental health, or your safety, it is important to communicate these honestly. You will usually be allowed one supervised phone call in the first 24 hours.

The first week and beyond

People convicted of sexual offences, especially against children, are usually accommodated on a Vulnerable Prisoner (VP) wing or unit, intended to provide protection from the general prison population. Placement on a VP wing depends mostly on you wanting to go there and there being space to receive you. Increasingly, these wings are already full, so you may have to spend some time on a normal wing, but you should expect certain protections in this circumstance.

VP wings can be relatively calm places, and you will quickly begin to acclimatise to the rigid routine and challenges of prison life. Cell-sharing is expected, and an experienced cellmate may help you understand the prison routines and systems. You should expect to spend considerable time in your cell, where you sleep, eat, use the toilet and watch television. Conditions are inevitably noisy, cramped and uncomfortable, and the cell may be too hot or too cold. But you will adjust.

For many people, once they have begun to acclimatise and adjust, it is boredom, separation from family and being alone with their thoughts are the most difficult aspects of imprisonment. Puzzle books, self-help books, novels, playing cards and in-cell exercise can help occupy your time. Any opportunities to leave your cell for such things as work, education, gym, association, faith services, library, laundry or showering should be gratefully accepted.

VP wings accommodate people for many different reasons, including vulnerability arising from mental health difficulties, learning disabilities, physical illness or threats from other prisoners.

During the first week, an offender supervisor from the Offender Management Unit (OMU) may explain your assigned security category and potential future prison placement.

If your sentence is below 10 years you should be assigned as a Category C prisoner, and usually transferred to a Category C prison. Although the Offender Supervisor will indicate an allocated prison to move to, the timing and actual location of any move will largely be determined by how quickly they need to your space in the existing prison and which prisons have available spaces to receive you.

Moving to a Category C prison

Category C prisons generally offer greater opportunities for employment, education, training, rehabilitation and gym facilities than the Category B local prisons.

You would normally only be moved to a prison that had a dedicated VP wing, or a prison dedicated solely to men convicted of sexual offences, such HMP Whatton, HMP Stafford, HMP Bure and HMP Littlehey.

Category C prisons tend to have a calmer environment and a greater emphasis on rehabilitation. However, they are often more remotely located, making visits difficult for family members, particularly those relying on public transport.

Useful information for prisoners and families

Prisons are inevitably security-focused environments, and procedures for communicating with the outside world can be unfamiliar, slow and frustrating.

Check the individual prison’s website for information about:

• Permitted property and clothing

• Visiting arrangements

• Telephone calls and outside communications

• Transferring money into prison accounts

• Education, training and rehabilitation opportunities

  
  

Most prisons have visitor centres outside their walls that are run by charities. These help family members to understand visiting arrangements, travel, transferring money and bringing in permitted clothing or personal items.

If imprisonment is a realistic possibility, read our blog on preparing for custody, written by a client who went to prison.

Support from Safer Lives

If you are facing possible or likely imprisonment and would like to understand how Safer Lives may be able to prepare you for that possibility, please contact us.

Written by Safer Lives director Andy Green, drawing on his experience of working in Category A, B and C prisons in England.

Further information: GOV.UK – Life in prison

To find out more about Safer Lives and our services visit our website www.saferlives.com

To contact Safer Lives, email info@saferlives.com , call 0800 0435987 or click here.