Understanding the terminology of the criminal justice system
Secure laptops provided to prisoners to access digital evidence and legal materials for their court cases. These devices have restricted functionality and cannot connect to the internet, but allow prisoners to review documents relevant to their legal proceedings.
Read more →Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork – a case management system for prisoners identified as being at risk of suicide or self-harm. It involves a multi-disciplinary approach to monitoring and supporting vulnerable prisoners through regular reviews and care plans.
Read more →Assessment, Care in Detention and Teamwork – the equivalent of ACCT used for detainees at risk of suicide or self-harm in Immigration Removal Centres (IRCs).
Read more →Extra days in custody that can be imposed as punishment following a prison adjudication (disciplinary hearing). Added days delay your release date. For example, if you would be released on 1 June and have 14 added days, your new release date is 15 June.
Read more →A formal hearing in prison to decide if you have broken prison rules and what punishment applies. Punishments can include loss of privileges, cellular confinement, or added days to your sentence.
Read more →An independent person, usually a District Judge, who hears the most serious disciplinary charges in prison (known as Independent Adjudications). For less serious matters, adjudications are heard by prison governors. Adjudicators can impose punishments including additional days added to a sentence.
Read more →A person aged 18+ who may need community care services due to mental or other disability, age or illness, and may be unable to protect themselves from significant harm or exploitation.
Read more →A rehabilitative programme designed to reduce alcohol-related violent offending by addressing the link between alcohol consumption and violent behaviour.
Read more →The process of deciding which prison institution prisoners are sent to, or what activities they do, taking into account security category, sentence length, and available places.
Read more →A formal request form that prisoners fill in to make requests covering healthcare appointments, property issues, visits, and complaints.
Read more →An independent individual who provides support to children and vulnerable adults in custody, ensuring they understand their rights during police interviews and proceedings.
Read more →A residential unit providing intensive supervision for supervised individuals who present a high or very high risk of serious harm. Most will have been released from prison on licence or have a requirement imposing AP residency on them. Residents at APs are subject to national rules with a number of restrictions, including a minimum curfew of 11pm-6am.
Read more →Youth Justice Board assessment documentation completed by youth offending teams to assess risks, needs, and circumstances of young people in the justice system.
Read more →Time when prisoners are allowed out of their cells to socialise, use facilities, or make phone calls.
Read more →A written form which allows someone to be kept in immigration detention under the Immigration Act 1971. Must be served on every detained person at initial detention.
Read more →Applies to prisoners serving sentences over 12 months and less than four years. Prisoners are automatically released at the halfway point, subject to licence conditions.
Read more →The date when prisoners on standard determinate sentences are automatically released, typically at the halfway point, with exceptions for certain offences.
Read more →A national network of visitor groups supporting people in immigration detention, providing information, advocacy, and practical support.
Read more →A charity providing free legal advice, information and representation to people held in immigration detention across the UK.
Read more →The entry-level grade for prison officers undertaking core duties including supervising prisoners and maintaining security.
Read more →A senior prison officer role with two types: supervising officer (managing teams) and specialist (undertaking specialised roles).
Read more →A professional translation and interpreting service used by prisons and criminal justice agencies to communicate with non-English speakers.
Read more →Body Orifice Security Scanner – a specialised chair using magnetic field technology to detect metallic objects concealed within body cavities.
Read more →The 2009 review of people with mental health problems or learning disabilities in the criminal justice system, recommending diversion services.
Read more →Prisoner peer supporters who help other prisoners, particularly new arrivals, adjust to prison life by providing practical information and emotional support.
Read more →An accredited programme addressing violence in heterosexual relationships, helping men convicted of intimate partner violence develop healthier relationship skills.
Read more →An HMPPS cognitive-behavioural programme that includes group work and one-to-one keywork sessions. Designed to help prisoners develop thinking skills, manage emotions, and make better decisions to reduce the likelihood of reoffending.
Read more →A rehabilitative course reducing offending behaviour and substance misuse by developing skills and strategies for maintaining recovery.
Read more →A computer system that is supposed to link the Prison Service and Probation. C-NOMIS was intended to replace P-NOMIS and provide a unified case management system, though implementation has faced significant challenges and delays.
Read more →The prison shop system where prisoners can order items using money sent by family or earned through prison work.
Read more →Legislation outlining local authority obligations for care assessment, charging, safeguarding, and children-to-adult services transition.
Read more →A dedicated prison unit where prisoners are held separately from main population, either for protection or for good order of the prison.
Read more →A person with experience of local authority care, regardless of placement length, type or age, including foster care and children's homes.
Read more →The organisation registering and inspecting care services in Wales to improve quality and safety, including those in custody.
Read more →A young person who has been in local authority care for at least 13 weeks before age 16, with specific entitlements to ongoing support.
Read more →Choices, Actions, Relationships and Emotions – a therapeutic programme for female prisoners addressing trauma, emotional regulation, and relationships.
Read more →The independent regulator of health and social care in England, inspecting and rating healthcare services including those in prisons.
Read more →The highest security prisons in the UK, housing those whose escape would be highly dangerous to the public, police, or national security.
Read more →High-security prisons for those who do not require maximum security but for whom escape must be made very difficult.
Read more →Training prisons for those who cannot be trusted in open conditions but who are unlikely to try to escape.
Read more →Open prisons with minimal security for those trusted not to escape. Often used for those nearing the end of sentences.
Read more →A button in each cell that prisoners can use to summon staff in an emergency. Response times are monitored as a key performance indicator.
Read more →An assessment used to identify prisoners at risk of seriously harming someone they share a cell with, informing cell allocation decisions.
Read more →The baseline measure of prison capacity – the sum of all certified accommodation excluding segregation units and health care cells not routinely used for long-stay patients.
Read more →Funded by HMPPS Creating Future Opportunities, the hub supports prisoners on licence to move into education, employment or training on release.
Read more →Used by adult prisons to manage prisoners who are violent or pose heightened risk through individualised targets and regular reviews. Some prisons also use it to support victims.
Read more →Where children and young people are targeted by criminals and gangs to engage in criminal activity, often involving drug dealing or violence.
Read more →Any child or young adult prisoner whose escape would present a serious risk to the public, required to be held in designated secure accommodation.
Read more →Provides children and young people in custody with an independent visitor and/or an advocate to represent their interests.
Read more →An HMPPS resource pack for key workers or prison offender managers to use in sessions with young adults identified as having low psychosocial maturity.
Read more →Small, specialist units in high security prisons holding some of the most dangerous prisoners who have committed serious violence while in prison.
Read more →The date when a law or specific provision of a law takes effect and begins to apply. This is different from Royal Assent (when a law is officially passed). A law can receive Royal Assent but not be "in force" until the Government announces a commencement date.
Read more →Part of the probation system providing flexible, responsive services to help break the cycle of reoffending, covering areas like accommodation and employment.
Read more →Prison officers recruited from Commonwealth countries under visa-sponsored employment schemes to address staffing shortages in UK prisons. These officers receive the same training as domestic recruits and typically commit to multi-year contracts.
Read more →Previously BASS – a contracted service providing short-term accommodation for those without suitable accommodation who might otherwise be held in custody.
Read more →An out-of-court disposal for low-level offences through informal agreement between parties, alternative to traditional criminal justice process.
Read more →Prisoners' Formal Complaint Form - the first stage in making a formal complaint. It is used for general complaints and not ones which may be confidential. The complaint is submitted using form COMP1 which is white. You should receive a response, normally from a wing officer within about three working days. The response will be made on the same form as you made your complaint.
Read more →Prisoners' Appeal Complaint Form - if a prisoner is not happy with the response to their initial complaint on Form COMP1, they can appeal using this form to someone at management level. This must be made within a week of receiving the first response. The prisoner should state why they are not happy with the first response. A response from management level should be received within seven working days. If it is going to take longer an interim reply should be provided explaining the reason for the delay.
Read more →Form for Confidential Access Complaint - if a prisoner wishes to make a complaint and feels it should not be read by wing staff they can post it in a sealed envelope using this form. Envelopes and forms should be freely available. There are strict rules for what complaints can be sent by Confidential Access. If the prison thinks the complaint does not comply they will return it unanswered. Responses from Confidential Access Complaints should be handed to the prisoner in a sealed envelope.
Read more →Where offenders sign a compact to remain drug free and testing is carried out to measure their compliance, often linked to incentives.
Read more →HMI Prisons survey aggregation metric that allows comparison of prisoner responses across different establishments. Comparators help identify how individual prisons perform relative to similar prisons or the estate average.
Read more →The date you are released from prison, subject to licence conditions. This is your automatic release date for determinate sentences. You will remain on licence until your sentence end date.
Read more →Complaints about prison staff or which are particularly sensitive or personal, handled through a sealed envelope system for confidentiality.
Read more →Telephone calls exempt from monitoring, typically to legal advisers, Samaritans, and certain other approved numbers.
Read more →Direct observation of a prisoner/child by a designated officer 24 hours a day when suicide risk is deemed high.
Read more →Physical techniques used by prison officers and staff to restrain prisoners when necessary, following approved training and procedures.
Read more →Gangs and organised crime networks exploiting children to sell drugs, making them travel across counties using dedicated mobile phone 'lines' to supply drugs.
Read more →Control of Violence and Anger in Impulsive Drinkers – an offending behaviour programme addressing alcohol-fuelled aggression.
Read more →A prison-based skills programme run by Amey that provides employment training and qualifications in facilities management.
Read more →The independent body investigating potential miscarriages of justice in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and referring cases back to the courts.
Read more →Independent inspectorate responsible for inspecting all aspects of the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland except the judiciary.
Read more →Prosecutes criminal cases investigated by police and other organisations in England and Wales, deciding whether to bring charges and presenting cases in court.
Read more →The most senior uniformed officers in a prison, managing activities often across multiple departments, responsible for people and resources.
Read more →Abbreviation for Children and Young People, commonly used in policy and practice documents relating to youth justice.
Read more →A DBS check provides a record of a person's criminal convictions and cautions, used for employment vetting especially for roles with vulnerable people.
Read more →Home Office Detainee Escorting and Population Management Unit – manages the movement and placement of immigration detainees.
Read more →Short-term postings where prison staff are temporarily assigned to work at a different establishment, often to address staffing shortages or provide specialist support. Staff on detached duty remain employed by their home prison.
Read more →A sentence for children where half is served in custody and half under supervision in the community.
Read more →Custody officers in Immigration Removal Centres responsible for the care and supervision of detainees.
Read more →Discrimination Incident Reporting Form - a system for prisoners and staff to report incidents of discrimination based on protected characteristics such as race, religion, disability, or sexual orientation. All DIRFs must be investigated and responded to.
Read more →Legal provisions governing when and how individuals must disclose their criminal convictions to employers and others. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 allows some convictions to become "spent" after a period, meaning they no longer need to be disclosed in most circumstances.
Read more →A restraint method where a prisoner is handcuffed with both arms secured, sometimes with hands behind their back, used during high-risk transfers or when there are specific security concerns about a prisoner's behaviour.
Read more →Dangerous and Severe Personality Disorder - a clinical and administrative category for individuals with severe personality disorders who pose a significant risk of serious harm to others. Specialist units exist within the prison and secure hospital system to manage and treat these individuals.
Read more →An EU regulation (Dublin III) that determines which EU member state is responsible for processing an asylum claim. Under this convention, asylum seekers can be returned to the first EU country they entered to have their claim processed there.
Read more →The governor in charge of the routine day-to-day operation of a prison, particularly outside normal working hours and at weekends. They have authority to make decisions on operational matters and respond to incidents.
Read more →Where prison staff develop awareness of individual prisoner behaviour and risk to create a safe prison through positive relationships.
Read more →The escape list - a register of prisoners who have previously escaped or attempted to escape from custody, or who have been assessed as presenting a significant escape risk. E-list prisoners are subject to enhanced security measures.
Read more →Allows foreign national prisoners to be removed from the UK up to 365 days earlier than their normal release date.
Read more →Enhanced Behaviour Monitoring - a scheme used to manage prisoners whose behaviour causes concern but does not meet the threshold for the CSIP process. Provides additional oversight and support to prevent escalation.
Read more →A scheme to tackle overcrowding allowing prisoners to be released up to 70 days early with extended supervised licence. Ran October 2023 to September 2024.
Read more →Provision for children with special educational needs which should continue while they are in custody.
Read more →A service allowing families and friends to send messages to prisoners via email. Messages are printed and delivered to prisoners, typically within one to two working days. Prisoners cannot reply by email but can respond by post.
Read more →Formerly known as a bailiff, an enforcement agent is authorised to collect debts, including court fines and council tax arrears. They can enter properties and seize goods to satisfy outstanding debts.
Read more →The highest privilege level in the Incentives and Earned Privileges (IEP) system, offering more freedoms and benefits.
Read more →The education and training inspectorate for Wales, equivalent to Ofsted in England. Estyn inspects education and training provision in Welsh prisons and young offender institutions.
Read more →Education, Training and Employment - activities and programmes designed to improve prisoners' skills and employability. ETE provision is considered essential for reducing reoffending and supporting successful resettlement.
Read more →A sentence with a custodial term plus an extended licence period. Unlike standard sentences, release is not automatic - the Parole Board decides when a prisoner can be released. Used for dangerous offenders.
Read more →Extended visiting sessions that allow prisoners to spend more time with their families in a less formal setting than standard visits. May include activities for children and help strengthen family bonds during imprisonment.
Read more →A system allowing prisoners to move unescorted between different areas of the prison during designated times, rather than being escorted in groups. Indicates a higher level of trust and promotes personal responsibility.
Read more →The official entry and exit point of a prison, often called the gatehouse. All visitors, staff, and prisoners entering or leaving the prison must pass through security checks at the gate.
Read more →Good Order Or Discipline - a reason for placing a prisoner in segregation when their continued presence on normal location would be detrimental to the good order or discipline of the prison, even if they have not committed a specific disciplinary offence.
Read more →General Pharmaceutical Council - the independent regulator for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy premises in Great Britain. Sets standards for pharmacy services in prisons and other settings.
Read more →Gypsy, Roma, Traveller - an abbreviation used to refer to prisoners from Gypsy, Roma, or Traveller communities. These groups are recognised as having specific cultural needs and are protected under the Equality Act 2010.
Read more →A scheme allowing eligible prisoners to be released early to serve the remainder of their sentence at home, wearing an electronic tag.
Read more →Home Detention Curfew Eligibility Date - the date from which a prisoner may be considered for release on Home Detention Curfew (HDC). Not all prisoners are eligible for HDC, and release is not automatic.
Read more →A prison-based programme for men to address domestic violence and develop non-abusive relationship patterns.
Read more →The Prisoners (Disclosure of Information About Victims) Act 2020, named after Helen McCourt who was murdered in 1988. Requires the Parole Board to take into account a prisoner's refusal to disclose the location of a victim's remains when considering release.
Read more →Hibiscus Initiatives - a charity that supports foreign national and Black, Asian, and minority ethnic women affected by the criminal justice system. Provides advocacy, resettlement support, and community services.
Read more →Healthcare Inspectorate Wales - the independent inspectorate and regulator of healthcare in Wales. Inspects healthcare services in Welsh prisons alongside HMI Prisons inspections.
Read more →An independent inspectorate that reports on conditions for and treatment of those in prison, young offender institutions, secure training centres, immigration detention facilities, police and court custody suites, customs custody facilities and military detention. HMIP conducts announced and unannounced inspections and publishes reports with recommendations for improvement.
Read more →An independent inspectorate that reports on the effectiveness of work with adults and children who have offended. It inspects probation services, youth offending teams, and other organisations providing probation and youth offending services. The inspectorate assesses and reports on the quality of practice and makes recommendations for improvement.
Read more →His Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service - an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice responsible for the administration of criminal, civil, and family courts and tribunals in England and Wales.
Read more →His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services - the inspectorate responsible for inspecting police forces and fire and rescue services in England and Wales.
Read more →His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland - the independent inspectorate of Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority. Separate from HMICFRS which covers England and Wales.
Read more →His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service. The executive agency responsible for prisons and probation in England and Wales.
Read more →Early release with electronic monitoring, allowing eligible prisoners to serve the final part of their sentence at home under curfew. The Sentencing Act 2026 removes this option for adult SDS prisoners once the relevant provision is in force.
Read more →A restraint system used during escort operations, particularly in prisoner escort vehicles. Designed to safely restrain prisoners during transport while minimising the risk of injury.
Read more →A medium-intensity programme for those convicted of sexual offences, focusing on understanding and managing risk factors.
Read more →The oldest penal reform charity in the world, working for less crime, safer communities, and fewer people in prison. The Howard League provides legal advice to young people in custody and campaigns for evidence-based criminal justice policy. Named after John Howard, the 18th-century prison reformer.
Read more →Help With Prison Visits - a government scheme that provides financial assistance towards the cost of visiting a relative or partner in prison. Eligibility is based on the visitor receiving certain benefits.
Read more →Information, Advice and Guidance - services provided to prisoners to help them make informed decisions about education, training, and employment opportunities both during their sentence and after release.
Read more →Immigration Compliance and Enforcement - teams within the Home Office responsible for enforcing immigration law, including tracing and removing people who have no legal right to remain in the UK.
Read more →Independent Custody Visitor - volunteers who make unannounced visits to police custody suites to check on the welfare of detainees and the conditions in which they are held. Different from IMB members who visit prisons.
Read more →Inter-departmental Risk Management Team - a multi-agency meeting that discusses and manages high-risk cases, particularly those involving safeguarding concerns or complex risks that require coordination between different agencies.
Read more →A scheme in prisons that rewards good behaviour and challenges poor behaviour through a system of privileges. Prisoners can be on Basic, Standard, or Enhanced levels. Those on Enhanced may have access to more visits, private cash, time out of cell, and better paid work. The scheme was updated and renamed to the Incentives Policy Framework.
Read more →Restricted items that are prohibited in prison, including drugs, mobile phones, weapons, and alcohol. Possession of illicit items is a disciplinary offence and may also constitute a criminal offence.
Read more →Individual Learning Plan - a document that sets out a prisoner's education and training goals, the steps needed to achieve them, and progress made. Used to personalise education provision to individual needs.
Read more →Facilities where immigration detainees are held while their immigration status is resolved or pending removal from the UK.
Read more →An indeterminate sentence that is no longer given (abolished in 2012) but still applies to some prisoners. There is no fixed release date - the Parole Board decides when a prisoner can be released, and some IPP prisoners remain in prison beyond their tariff.
Read more →Provides privileges to incentivise good behaviour and engagement. Privileges can be removed for poor behaviour.
Read more →Volunteers in every prison and immigration facility reporting on whether detainees are treated fairly and humanely.
Read more →The process of orienting new prisoners to a prison, typically lasting the first few days after arrival. Covers prison rules, available services, education and work opportunities, and how to access support.
Read more →The security category assigned to a prisoner on admission, based on factors including the nature of their offence, sentence length, and assessed risk of escape or harm. Categories range from A (highest security) to D (open conditions).
Read more →Prisoners trained to help new arrivals settle into prison life, providing peer support and practical information about how the prison operates. Similar to Listeners but focused on general orientation rather than emotional support.
Read more →System aiming to increase the volume and quality of substance misuse treatment available to prisoners.
Read more →HMPPS powers to monitor and record prisoners' telephone calls and other communications for security purposes. Prisoners are informed that calls may be monitored, except for legally privileged calls to solicitors.
Read more →Integrated Offender Management - a multi-agency approach to managing persistent offenders, combining resources from police, probation, prisons, and other agencies to reduce reoffending through coordinated supervision and support.
Read more →A type of indeterminate sentence introduced in 2005 and abolished in 2012. Many IPP prisoners remain in custody past their tariff date due to difficulties proving they are safe to release.
Read more →Intelligence Report - a report containing information relevant to prison security, such as suspected involvement in drug dealing, violence, or escape planning. IRs are assessed and may lead to further investigation or action.
Read more →Independent Review of Progress - a review process for indeterminate sentence prisoners to assess their progress against sentence plan objectives and their suitability for progression through the prison system.
Read more →Incentivised Substance-Free Living - designated units or wings within prisons where prisoners commit to remaining drug-free in exchange for additional privileges and a more positive living environment. Regular drug testing is required.
Read more →Indeterminate Sentence Prisoner - a prisoner serving a sentence with no fixed end date, including life sentences and the now-abolished IPP sentences. Release depends on demonstrating reduced risk and is decided by the Parole Board.
Read more →An accredited offending behaviour programme for adult men assessed as high or very high risk of violent reoffending.
Read more →Prison officers have a caseload of around six prisoners to develop constructive, motivational relationships supporting rehabilitation.
Read more →A charity working to prevent youth violence and support young people affected by the criminal justice system. Delivers programmes in prisons and the community focused on personal development and positive change.
Read more →A charity that awards and exhibits arts created by offenders, ex-offenders, and secure patients. The annual Koestler Awards recognise achievement in visual arts, music, writing, and other creative disciplines.
Read more →Liaison and Diversion services - NHS-commissioned services that identify people with mental health problems, learning disabilities, or other vulnerabilities when they first encounter the criminal justice system, and refer them to appropriate support.
Read more →The 2017 independent review into treatment and outcomes for Black, Asian and minority ethnic individuals in the criminal justice system.
Read more →A telephone interpreting service used in prisons and other settings to enable communication with people who do not speak English or have limited English proficiency. Interpreters are available in over 200 languages.
Read more →Local Area Public Protection Panel - the Northern Ireland equivalent of MAPPA, bringing together agencies to manage the risks posed by sexual and violent offenders in the community.
Read more →Volunteers who monitor the conditions and treatment of prisoners during escort by private contractors. They have the right to observe escort vehicles, reception centres, and court cells.
Read more →Local Criminal Justice Board - a partnership bringing together criminal justice agencies in a local area to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the criminal justice system and address local priorities.
Read more →Learning Difficulties and/or Disabilities - a term encompassing conditions that affect learning, such as dyslexia, ADHD, autism spectrum conditions, and intellectual disabilities. Prisons should identify LDD and provide appropriate support.
Read more →Licence Expiry Date - the date on which a prisoner's licence period ends, after which they are no longer subject to licence conditions and cannot be recalled to prison for breach. For some sentences, this is followed by a post-sentence supervision period.
Read more →An abbreviation for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and other gender identities and sexual orientations. Prisoners who identify as LGBT+ have specific needs and are protected under the Equality Act 2010.
Read more →The conditions under which a prisoner is released before the end of their sentence. Breach of licence conditions can result in recall to prison.
Read more →The period after release from prison when you must follow certain conditions set by probation. This lasts until your sentence end date. Breaking licence conditions can result in recall to prison.
Read more →Prisoners trained by the Samaritans to provide confidential emotional support to fellow prisoners at risk of suicide or self-harm.
Read more →Local Safeguarding Adults Board - a statutory body that coordinates safeguarding for adults at risk in a local area. Prisons should engage with LSABs where there are concerns about adult prisoners at risk.
Read more →Local Safeguarding Children Board - replaced in 2019 by Safeguarding Children Partnerships, these bodies coordinate child protection work in a local area. Relevant when prisoners have contact with children or there are child safeguarding concerns.
Read more →Multi-Agency Lifer Risk Assessment Panel - a panel that considers risk management for life sentence prisoners at key points in their sentence, particularly in relation to ROTL and category decisions.
Read more →Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements – police, probation and prison services working together to manage risks posed by violent, sexual and terrorism offenders.
Read more →Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference - a meeting where information about high-risk domestic abuse cases is shared between agencies to develop coordinated action plans to protect victims and manage perpetrators.
Read more →Multi-Agency Risk Action Plan - a plan developed through multi-agency discussion to manage identified risks, particularly in relation to safeguarding or public protection concerns.
Read more →Multi-Agency Risk Panel - a panel that brings together relevant agencies to assess and manage complex cases involving multiple risks, ensuring coordinated responses and information sharing.
Read more →Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub - a co-located team of professionals from different agencies who share information and coordinate responses to safeguarding concerns about children or adults at risk.
Read more →Mandatory Drug Testing - a programme of random and suspicion-based drug testing in prisons. A positive test is a disciplinary offence and may affect a prisoner's privileges and release decisions.
Read more →Specialist teams offering mental health care, treatment and support similar to community-based services.
Read more →An age assessment that meets the standards set by the Merton case, which established how local authorities should assess the age of asylum seekers who claim to be children but whose age is disputed.
Read more →Minimising and Managing Physical Restraint - the approved system of restraint for use with children and young people in custody. Designed to be safer and less restrictive than adult restraint techniques.
Read more →Measuring the Quality of Prison Life - a survey tool used by researchers and HMI Prisons to assess prisoners' perceptions of their treatment and conditions. Results provide insights into the quality of prison life.
Read more →A crime reduction charity that provides services including housing, education, employment support, and advice to people with criminal records and those at risk of offending.
Read more →A charity working in the north-east of England to support people in prison and their families. Provides visitor centres, family support services, and resettlement support.
Read more →Northern Ireland Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders - a charity that supports people affected by the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland through accommodation, employment, and advice services.
Read more →The system for allowing prisoners to access toilet facilities during the night. In cells without integral sanitation (in-cell toilets), this may involve unlocking cells at set times or providing in-cell alternatives.
Read more →National Offender Management Information System - a computer system designed to link the Prison Service and Probation. NOMIS aims to provide integrated information sharing between prisons and probation services to support offender management throughout the criminal justice process.
Read more →Non-Parole Release Date - for some determinate sentences, the date on which a prisoner must be released without needing Parole Board approval, typically at the two-thirds point of their sentence.
Read more →National Referral Mechanism - the framework for identifying and supporting victims of modern slavery and human trafficking. Potential victims in prison should be referred to the NRM for assessment.
Read more →Offender Assessment System - the standardised tool used by probation and prisons to assess the risks and needs of offenders. OASys assessments inform sentence planning and risk management.
Read more →Offending Behaviour Programmes - structured programmes designed to address the thinking patterns and behaviours that contribute to offending. Include programmes targeting violence, sexual offending, domestic abuse, and general offending.
Read more →Model where prison officers undertake key work sessions and case management, establishing the prison offender manager (POM) role.
Read more →The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills - the inspectorate for education and training in England. Ofsted inspects education provision in prisons as part of joint inspections with HMI Prisons.
Read more →Offender Management Unit - the team within a prison responsible for sentence planning, risk assessment, and managing prisoners' progress through their sentence. Works closely with community probation services.
Read more →Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture - a UN treaty that establishes a system of international and national inspections of places of detention. The UK's National Preventive Mechanism, including HMI Prisons, fulfils OPCAT requirements.
Read more →Offender Personality Disorder pathway - a joint NHS and HMPPS initiative providing specialist services for offenders with personality disorders who pose a high risk of harm. Includes prison-based treatment and community support.
Read more →The maximum number of prisoners that an establishment can hold while maintaining a safe and decent environment. Set by HMPPS based on physical capacity, staffing, and regime considerations.
Read more →Prison support role with limited prisoner contact compared to prison officers, undertaking tasks like gate security.
Read more →Official Prison Video Conferencing - a system enabling prisoners to attend court hearings, parole reviews, and other official meetings remotely via video link, reducing the need for physical transport.
Read more →Operational and System Assurance Group - an HMPPS body that provides oversight and quality assurance of prison operations, including monitoring performance and identifying areas for improvement.
Read more →Prison National Offender Management Information System - the main IT system used in prisons to record and manage prisoner information, including sentence details, movements, and case notes.
Read more →Prison Advice and Care Trust - a charity that supports prisoners, people with convictions, and their families. Runs visitor centres, family support services, and provides advice on housing and benefits.
Read more →The supervised release of a prisoner before the end of their sentence, subject to conditions. Breach of parole conditions can result in recall to prison.
Read more →An independent body that decides whether prisoners serving indeterminate sentences (life, IPP) or extended sentences can be safely released. The Parole Board assesses risk and can set release conditions.
Read more →A legal framework that allows nurses and other healthcare professionals to supply and administer specified medicines to patients without an individual prescription. Used in prisons for common treatments.
Read more →A synthetic pepper spray incapacitant used by prison officers in some establishments. Deployed as a last resort to control violent incidents, PAVA causes temporary blindness and breathing difficulties.
Read more →Police and Crime Commissioner - elected officials responsible for the policing of a local area in England and Wales. PCCs set police priorities and hold chief constables to account.
Read more →Prisoner Custody Officer - staff employed by private contractors to escort prisoners between court, prison, and other locations. Have powers to detain and use reasonable force when necessary.
Read more →Prisoner Convicted of a Sexual Offence - a term used to describe prisoners serving sentences for sexual offences, who may require specific management arrangements for their protection and the protection of others.
Read more →Prisoner Escort and Custody Services - the contracts under which private companies provide escort services for prisoners between courts, prisons, and police stations in England and Wales.
Read more →Parole Eligibility Date - the earliest date at which an indeterminate sentence prisoner may be considered for release by the Parole Board. For life sentence prisoners, this is when the tariff (minimum term) expires.
Read more →Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan - a plan for safely evacuating a person with a disability or health condition in an emergency. All prisoners with mobility or sensory impairments should have a PEEP.
Read more →Person Escort Record - a document that accompanies a prisoner during transport between court, prison, and other locations. Contains essential information including risk factors, health needs, and any restraint requirements.
Read more →Prison Governors' Association - the professional body and trade union representing prison governors and senior managers in the UK. Advocates for its members and contributes to policy development.
Read more →A charity that provides drug and alcohol treatment services, including residential rehabilitation and prison-based programmes. One of several providers delivering substance misuse treatment in prisons.
Read more →Psychologically Informed Planned Environment – specially designed living areas with trained staff to support prisoners with challenging needs.
Read more →Prison Officers' Association - the trade union representing prison officers and related grades in the UK. Negotiates on pay and conditions and represents members in disputes and disciplinary matters.
Read more →Prison staff responsible for offender management and sentence planning, working with community offender managers.
Read more →An independent UK charity working to create a just, humane and effective penal system. The Prison Reform Trust provides information and advice to prisoners, produces research and policy analysis, and campaigns for reform. They publish the annual Bromley Briefings Prison Factfile containing key statistics about the prison system.
Read more →Mandatory instructions issued to prison staff that set out the rules and procedures that must be followed in running prisons. PSIs cover everything from security procedures to prisoner rights, healthcare, and complaints. They are numbered and dated, and prisoners can request to see relevant PSIs.
Read more →Independent organisation investigating deaths in custody and complaints from people in custody or under community supervision.
Read more →A court-ordered period of supervision in the community as an alternative to imprisonment. Managed by the Probation Service, it involves regular meetings and conditions.
Read more →Behaviour that is positive, helpful, and intended to benefit others or society. Developing prosocial attitudes and behaviours is a key goal of rehabilitation programmes.
Read more →A technique used by prison staff where they demonstrate positive behaviours and attitudes that prisoners can learn from and emulate. Part of creating a rehabilitative culture.
Read more →The nine characteristics protected from discrimination under the Equality Act 2010: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.
Read more →The duties under the Care Act 2014 to protect adults who have care and support needs, are experiencing or at risk of abuse or neglect, and are unable to protect themselves because of those needs.
Read more →Prison Service Instruction - mandatory guidance issued by HMPPS that sets out how specific policies and procedures must be implemented in prisons. Part of the Prison Service Order framework.
Read more →Prison Service Order - policy documents that set out the framework for managing prisons and prisoners. Being gradually replaced by more streamlined policy frameworks.
Read more →Pre-Sentence Report - a report prepared by probation for the court, providing information about an offender's background, the circumstances of their offence, and recommendations for sentencing.
Read more →Synthetic drugs that mimic cannabis effects but are often much stronger, with no discernable odour. A significant problem in prisons.
Read more →Privileged Visiting Order - additional visiting entitlement that may be given to prisoners as a privilege or reward for good behaviour under the incentives scheme.
Read more →Rehabilitation for Addicted Prisoners Trust, now known as The Forward Trust - a charity that provides drug and alcohol treatment programmes in prisons and the community.
Read more →Resettlement Day Release - a type of temporary release allowing prisoners to spend time in the community during the day to support their preparation for release, such as attending job interviews or arranging accommodation.
Read more →Race Equality Action Group - a Prison Service group that addresses racial equality issues across the prison estate, developing policy and monitoring implementation.
Read more →The return to prison of an offender who has breached their licence conditions or whose behaviour suggests increased risk.
Read more →Being returned to prison for breaking your licence conditions. If recalled, you can be held until your sentence end date. You can make representations to the Parole Board to be re-released.
Read more →An NHS England initiative to improve continuity of care for people leaving prison or immigration removal centres, ensuring they are connected with community health services on release.
Read more →Prisoners in recovery from substance misuse who provide peer support to others struggling with addiction. Part of a recovery-focused approach to drug and alcohol treatment in prisons.
Read more →A court-ordered requirement to attend activities aimed at rehabilitation, such as programmes addressing offending behaviour.
Read more →A culture within a prison that supports and motivates prisoner progress towards positive change. Characterised by respectful relationships, meaningful activity, and opportunities for personal development.
Read more →The period when an accused person is held in custody while awaiting trial or sentencing. Remand prisoners have not yet been convicted and make up a significant portion of the prison population.
Read more →Time spent in custody before sentencing that counts towards your prison sentence. Also called "time served on remand". This is usually stated by the judge at sentencing and is recorded on your warrant.
Read more →A cognitive-behavioural intervention programme designed for prisoners who have committed violent offences. Uses group work to address thinking patterns and develop skills to manage conflict without violence.
Read more →Adults who must be present during police interviews with children and young people, typically a parent, guardian, social worker, or other appropriate adult. Ensures the child's welfare and that they understand proceedings.
Read more →A system of criminal justice which focuses on the rehabilitation of offenders through reconciliation with victims and the community at large. Programmes allow offenders to understand the impact of their crime on victims, take responsibility, and make reparation. Can include face-to-face conferences, victim impact panels, or community service.
Read more →The assessed level of risk of harm that the service user is identified as presenting, assessed as part of the OASys assessment tool. There are four levels: Low (LRoSH) - no likelihood of causing serious harm; Medium (MRoSH) - potential to cause harm but unlikely unless circumstances change (e.g., failure to take medication, loss of accommodation, relationship breakdown, drug or alcohol misuse); High (HRoSH) - identifiable indicators of risk, potential event could happen at any time with serious impact; Very High (VHRoSH) - imminent risk, event more likely than not to happen imminently with serious impact, typically relating to a critical few.
Read more →A head count of all prisoners to verify everyone is accounted for, conducted regularly throughout the day.
Read more →Resettlement Overnight Release - a type of temporary release allowing prisoners to spend one or more nights in the community, typically to re-establish family ties or test suitability for release.
Read more →A scheme allowing eligible prisoners to leave prison temporarily for specific purposes such as work, education, or family visits.
Read more →Detention Centre Rules requirement to notify Home Office if a detainee's health may be injured by detention, including torture victims.
Read more →A schedule to the Criminal Justice Act 2003 listing specified violent offences (Part 1) and specified sexual offences (Part 2). These offences can trigger enhanced sentencing provisions including longer minimum terms and SDS+ release fractions.
Read more →A more serious standard determinate sentence under section 244ZA of the Criminal Justice Act 2003. Release is currently at two-thirds, changing to one-half under the Sentencing Act 2026. Applies to certain violent and sexual offences listed in Schedule 15.
Read more →Scheme where prisoners serve 40% instead of 50% of standard determinate sentences in prison, with extended community supervision. Replaced ECSL in September 2024.
Read more →A provision in the Criminal Justice Act 2003 that applies to serious violent and sexual offences listed in Schedule 15. Sentences for these offences (SDS+) have a higher release fraction - currently two-thirds, moving to one-half under the Sentencing Act 2026.
Read more →The HMPPS video calling system that enables prisoners to maintain contact with family and friends through scheduled video calls, supplementing in-person visits.
Read more →An area of a prison where prisoners are held separately from the main population, often for their own protection or as punishment.
Read more →The date when your full sentence ends. After this date, you are no longer on licence and have no further restrictions from your sentence. This is different from your release date - you serve the rest of your sentence on licence in the community.
Read more →The primary legislation reforming release points for determinate sentences in England and Wales. Received Royal Assent on 22 January 2026. Key changes include moving standard SDS release from one-half to one-third, and SDS+ release from two-thirds to one-half.
Read more →Charity supporting people in prison to learn to read through peer mentoring programmes like Turning Pages.
Read more →Safety Intervention Meeting - a multi-disciplinary meeting held to review the care and management of prisoners at risk of suicide or self-harm, particularly those on ACCT.
Read more →Segregation Monitoring and Review Group - a multi-agency group that reviews the use of segregation in prisons, ensuring it is used appropriately and that prisoners' welfare is maintained.
Read more →Senior Management Team - the team of governors and other senior managers responsible for the strategic leadership and day-to-day management of a prison.
Read more →Senior Officer - a supervisory grade in the prison service, responsible for overseeing a team of prison officers and the day-to-day running of a wing or department.
Read more →A set of care services provided to meet assessed social care needs, such as help with personal care, mobility, or daily living tasks. Local authorities are responsible for assessing and meeting the social care needs of prisoners.
Read more →Sexual Offender Treatment Programme - now replaced by newer programmes, SOTP was a group-based treatment programme for sexual offenders focusing on understanding and changing patterns of offending behaviour.
Read more →Unfurnished, safe accommodation used as a last resort when a prisoner's behaviour poses a serious risk to themselves or others and cannot be managed in any other way. Use is strictly monitored.
Read more →Temporary release granted in exceptional circumstances, such as to attend a funeral, visit a dying relative, or attend a court hearing. Requires specific authorisation.
Read more →Senior Probation Officer - a supervisory role within the probation service responsible for overseeing probation officers and managing complex cases.
Read more →Sentence Planning Review - a review of a prisoner's progress against their sentence plan, identifying what has been achieved and what further work is needed to address risks and prepare for release.
Read more →A fixed-term prison sentence with automatic release at a set point. Currently release is at 40% of the sentence, but under the Sentencing Act 2026 this will change to one-third for many cases. This is the most common type of prison sentence.
Read more →Secure Training Centre - a type of secure accommodation for children aged 12-17 who have been sentenced or remanded by the courts. Smaller than YOIs, with higher staff ratios and an emphasis on education.
Read more →Short-Term Holding Facility - a secure facility where immigration detainees can be held for short periods, typically while their immigration status is being resolved or while awaiting transfer to an IRC.
Read more →A charity that enables prisoners to record bedtime stories for their children on CD or DVD, helping maintain family bonds during incarceration. The recordings are edited to remove background prison noise and can include personal messages. The charity also runs Storybook Mums for female prisoners.
Read more →A programme in immigration removal centres, similar to Storybook Dads, that enables detainees to record stories for their children, helping maintain family bonds during separation.
Read more →A restorative justice programme that brings victims of crime (not victims of the course participants) together with offenders to explore the impact of crime. Helps prisoners understand the harm their offending causes.
Read more →Man-made chemicals that mimic the effects of cannabis but are often far more potent and dangerous. Commonly known as Spice, they are a significant problem in prisons, causing health emergencies and debt.
Read more →Terrorism Act 2000 - legislation that defines terrorism offences and provides powers for investigation and prosecution. Prisoners convicted under TACT require specialist management.
Read more →If you were on tagged bail (electronic monitoring) before sentencing, half of that time may count as credit towards your sentence. The court must specify this at sentencing for it to apply.
Read more →The minimum period a prisoner serving a life or indeterminate sentence must serve before being considered for release by the Parole Board.
Read more →A structured group-based approach to treating personality disorders and substance misuse, where the community itself is the primary therapeutic tool. Prisoners participate in running the community and take responsibility for each other.
Read more →A cognitive skills programme addressing offenders' thinking and behaviour patterns linked to offending.
Read more →Time spent outside a prisoner's cell, whether engaged in purposeful activity (work, education) or association. Adequate time out of cell is essential for wellbeing and a decent regime.
Read more →Temporary Presumptive Recategorisation Scheme - a scheme that allows certain prisoners to be temporarily moved to a lower security category to enable release on HDC or to access specific programmes or work.
Read more →A peer-mentoring reading programme run by the Shannon Trust, where prisoners who can read help those who cannot. The programme uses a specially designed workbook and one-to-one support.
Read more →A scheme that pairs professional football clubs with prisons to deliver programmes using the power of sport. Clubs provide coaching and mentoring to prisoners, using football to develop teamwork, communication, and employability skills. Helps reduce reoffending by building positive relationships and pathways to employment.
Read more →UK Border Force - the law enforcement command within the Home Office responsible for immigration and customs controls at UK borders, including detecting people entering illegally.
Read more →An inspection conducted without prior notice to the establishment, allowing inspectors to see conditions as they normally are. HMI Prisons conducts both announced and unannounced inspections.
Read more →A cell stripped of most furniture and fittings, used for temporary confinement when a prisoner is violent or at risk of harming themselves using items in a normal cell. Use is strictly controlled and monitored.
Read more →A charity that supports people with convictions to overcome the barriers created by criminal records, including advocacy, advice, and campaigning for policy reform.
Read more →Allows HM Chief Inspector of Prisons to directly alert the Lord Chancellor about urgent concerns regarding prison performance.
Read more →Voluntary Drug Testing - drug tests that prisoners can request to demonstrate they are drug-free. A negative VDT may support applications for enhanced status, ROTL, or progression to open conditions.
Read more →Internet access to community education, training and employment opportunities for prisoners preparing for release.
Read more →A computer-based system that provides access to educational content and resources. In prisons, these are typically closed systems without internet access but offering a range of learning materials.
Read more →Violent and Sexual Offenders Register - a database used by police, probation, and prison services to share information about violent and sexual offenders to support their management and public protection.
Read more →Visiting Order - a document authorising a social visit to a prisoner. The prisoner typically sends VOs to approved visitors, who present them when arriving for a visit.
Read more →A unit or wing where prisoners stay if the prison believes they are at risk from others in the main population.
Read more →A type of prison for young people aged 18-21. Some also hold 15-17 year olds in specific units.
Read more →Responsible for running public sector youth secure estate for children aged 10-17 in England and Wales.
Read more →Non-departmental public body overseeing the youth justice system in England and Wales.
Read more →Teams working with young people in trouble with the law to help them stay away from crime through supervision and intervention.
Read more →A charity founded after the racist murder of Zahid Mubarek at Feltham YOI in 2000. Works to challenge racism and discrimination in the criminal justice system and support victims of hate crime.
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