We started prisonandjails.com because, frankly, the information out there for people dealing with the UK prison system is either scattered across dozens of government pages, hidden behind paywalls, or just plain wrong. We wanted to change that.
Why This Site Exists
If someone you care about is heading to prison — or you're facing a sentence yourself — the last thing you need is to wade through confusing jargon and outdated advice. We've pulled together everything you'd actually want to know into one place: which prison they might go to, how visits work, what calls cost, where the nearest court is, and what probation really involves.
Every piece of content on this site is written with real people in mind. Not lawyers. Not policy wonks. Ordinary people who are going through one of the most stressful experiences of their lives.
What We Cover
We maintain detailed pages for every active prison in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland — that's over 130 establishments. Each page includes the address, phone number, category, capacity, and a genuine description of what the place is like. We do the same for UK courts and probation offices.
Our advice section tackles the questions people actually search for: what's prison really like, how do the showers work, how much do phone calls cost, how to book a visit. We write in plain English, with no sugar-coating.
Our Approach
We're not a charity and we're not affiliated with the government. We're an independent information resource. That means we can be honest — sometimes bluntly so — about how the system works and where it falls short.
All our information is checked against official sources including HMPPS, the Scottish Prison Service, the Northern Ireland Prison Service, and HM Courts & Tribunals Service. Where things change — and they do, regularly — we update our content.
A Word on Accuracy
We do our best to keep everything current, but the criminal justice system moves quickly. Phone numbers change, prisons re-categorise, courts merge. If you spot something that's out of date, we'd genuinely appreciate you letting us know.
This site provides general information only. It isn't legal advice, and it shouldn't be treated as such. If you need legal help, speak to a solicitor or contact Citizens Advice.
Get in Touch
We're always looking to improve the site and add more useful content. If there's something you'd like us to cover — or if you've got experience of the system and want to share it — drop us a line. The more real-world input we get, the better this resource becomes for everyone.