Guides
Written for the family on the outside. Plain words, no judgement.
Court, remand and sentencing
Someone on remand
What remand means, the extra things they are allowed, and how long it lasts.
What happens at court
From charge to sentence, and all the jargon, in plain English.
Expecting prison? Get ready
What to take to court, and how to sort the house, money, kids and pets first.
Solicitors, legal aid and appeals
The right kind of solicitor, whether legal aid pays, and the appeal deadline.
It just happened
The first 48 hours
What happens after court, why they have not rung, and what to do today.
Which prison are they in?
How to find someone for free, and what to do after a sudden move.
Staying in touch
Cheaper prison calls
Apps, call services and landlines compared honestly. Same calls, half the price.
Why is my number not approved?
How phone approval works, what goes wrong, and how to unstick it.
What you can send in
Letters, photos, clothes and books. What works and what gets sent back.
Children and prison
Telling the kids, the school, visits, and the people who help.
Stopping unwanted contact
How to stop contact, and no-contact rules when you are the victim.
While they are inside
Worried about their mental health
Safer Custody, ACCT, stopped medication, and looking after yourself too.
Recall explained
Sent back to prison from licence. The 56 day rule and what happens next.
Getting out and after
The 2026 sentencing changes
Will they get out earlier? What is changing, and what has not started yet.
Where will they live on release?
Approved premises, bail hostels and CAS explained, and homelessness help.
Where the rules differ
Still to come: family tips for each prison, added from real experience.