Blogs:
The first prisoner to blog in the UK; now released.
“My name is Graham Coutts. I have been wrongfully convicted of murder, and have been imprisoned since April 2003”
“David Ferguson has been in prison for a crime he didn’t commit since November 2000. Here he speaks to you about his plight and his fight for justice.”
The blog of writer, Guardian columnist and ex-prisoner, Erwin James.
The blog of retired probation officer and social worker Andrew Hatton
A mixture of law, politics, autobiography and humour.
The blog of writer, campaigner for improvements in prison education and ex-prisoner, Jonathan Robinson.
A new ex-prisoner blog with links to various others maintained by John Macphee.
The blog of speaker, advocate of prisoner’s rights, author and ex-prisoner Shaun Attwood.
The excellent and informative blog of ex-prisoner Alex Cavendish.
The Prison Widow blog.
Tracey McMahon’s She Project Blog
Prison Services:
Greeting Cards for prisoners.
Fonesavvy gives you the freedom to receive calls without waiting by the landline and avoiding the caller being subjected to high charges
You can send messages to a prisoner via this website, it takes only a few minutes to sign up and the message gets delivered to the prison rapidly.
Prison Media:
insidetime is the national monthly newspaper for prisoners
CONVERSE is the highest circulation national prisons newspaper
Prison Arts:
Books on Amazon UK
Inside Poetry, Voices From Prison: Volume 1
Inside Poetry, Voices From Prison: Volume 2
Inside Poetry, Voices From Prison: Volume 3
Inside Poetry, Voices From Prison: Volume 4
Inside Poetry, Voices From Prison: Volume 5
Not Shut Up publish a magazine of arts of the “unfree” – representing any custodial setting.
Organising writer residencies in prisons
Prison Arts charity
The Irene Taylor trust for arts and rehabilitation
Promoting fine crafts work by prisoners
Theatre company with an independent education programme
Prison Support Groups:
Another blog maintained by the prison widow
Positive Prison? Positive Futures…
Positive Prison? Positive Futures…is a community of interest which draws upon the shared lived experiences of people who are or have been subject to punishment.
A befriending and mentoring service for prisoners
Partners of Prisoners Support Group (POPS)
POPS was established by family members experiencing the stigma and distress of supporting a relative through a custodial sentence.
PAS provides legal advice and information to prisoners, takes up prisoners’ complaints about their treatment inside prison and produces a quarterly bulletin entitled ‘Prisoners’ Rights’.
Prisoners’ Families & Friends Service
Helping Prisoners’ families through: freephone helpline; help at court; family centre; information and advice and befriending service
The Prison Reform Trust (PRT) is an independent UK charity working to create a just, humane and effective penal system.
Howard League for Penal Reform
The Howard League for Penal Reform is a national charity working for less crime, safer communities and fewer people in prison.
BTG services include:- linking releasees to experts who can find them accommodation; advice for releasees on CV writing, interview skills and finding a job; free website advertising for organisations who employ ex-offenders, and for ex-offenders’ Cvs; a Penpal Scheme provides prisoners with a link to the outside world.
Action for Prisoners’ Families
Action for Prisoners’ Families (APF) works for the benefit of prisoners’ and offenders’ families by representing the views of families and those who work with them and by promoting effective work with families.
AFFECT is an organization for families and friends of offenders facing possible “Life”/ Long prison sentences.
Alternatives to Violence Project
AVP is for everyone who wants to handle conflict, deal with strong feelings like anger and fear, and build better relationships.
Addiction Support Groups:
Rehabilitation of Addicted Prisoners Trust
RAPt (the Rehabilitation for Addicted Prisoners Trust) works to help people with drug and alcohol dependence, both in prison and in the community, move towards, achieve and maintain positive and fulfilling drug-free and crime-free lives.
Adfam is the only national umbrella organisation working specifically with and for families affected by drugs and alcohol.
Resettlement Support Groups:
Revolving Doors is a charity working across England to change systems and improve services for people with multiple problems, including poor mental health, who are in contact with the criminal justice system.
Nacro is the largest crime reduction charity in the UK.
BTG aims to help reduce re-offending by helping discharged prisoners settle into their communities after release.
Apex Trust promotes employment as a route out of offending for people with a criminal record.
