Family Zone
These pages are for the families of prisoners. If you have produced information which you think families might benefit from please contact diana@actionpf.org.uk. Alternatively, if you are a famiy member yourself and there is information you need which you can't find on our site please do contact us .
We hope these pages are informative and helpful. Below is a selection of booklets and information briefings produced by APF and APF members, as well as four web sites which you may find helpful.
Be informed
Advice on how families deal with the newspapers, television, digtial media and radio
If you would like to be e-mailed Mediawise's advice on making a complaint, coping with media interest, selling your story, and/or handling hostile questions, please contact us.
Long-term, lifer prisoners, and sex offenders
APF has produced two briefings specifically for the families of long-term, lifer prisoners and sex offenders which can be downloaded below. If you need to know about IPP (Imprisonment for Public Protection) sentences the Sainsburys Centre for Mental Health have published a report on IPP and mental health. 'In the Dark' can be downloaded from http://www.scmh.org.uk/publications/in_the_dark.aspx?ID=584 . A briefing by Prison Reform Trust on the IPP sentence can also be downloaded below.
Visiting Prisons - film on YouTube
A video filmed in Wandsworth Prison gives practical advice and guidance on prison visits http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GR3aiG4BUEU .
Four useful websites for the families of prisoners:
www.information.insidetime.org/visitors.asp : This Inside Time website gives detailed travel and regime information for every prison in the UK. It was launched in June 2009 and will be regularly updated.
www.prisonchatuk.com : This online community gives support to those with a family member in prison. The forum is monitored by a group of administrators to ensure it is a secure and safe environment for everyone, including children.
www.emailaprisoner.com : Email a Prisoner enables a family member to send messages to prisoners in the UK from any computer for 25 pence per message. Your message is delivered to the prison within seconds so that it can be delivered to the prisoner by the prison staff in the next delivery. It is free to sign up to Email a Prisoner. All you need is an email address. Go to the e-mail a prisoner website to see if the prison your relative is in subscribes to the service. As of July 2009 55 prisons are subscribing with another 30 in the process of doing so.
Prisonersfamiliesvoices is the on-line community run by prisoners' families for prisoners' families.
Family Voices
Go to our Family Voices page to read and listen to first hand accounts from the families of prisoners.
Family Writing
Go to our Family Writing page to read some of the articles, poems and letters families have sent to us.
Need help?
Go to the Offenders' Families Helpline website or phone them on 0808 808 2003.
Storybooks and Information for Children and Families
Find details of both APF's and other organisations' books and information for the children and families of prisoners on our publications and resources page. You can download free copies of APF's Outsiders booklets on that page.
Useful information for families
Prisoners' families are our greatest hope of reducing crime. So why do we never hear their thoughts and views?