At Reeds, our expert team of Prison Law solicitors and advisors are highly specialised in many areas of Prison Law. Our team are located across England and Wales and as such, can help you wherever you may be.
We understand the fear and frustration that often accompanies these cases and many times, the urgency. Whether you are in custody for the first time or need help with appeals against recall, reviews or disciplinary issues, our team is here to help.
In these circumstances it can be difficult to know where to turn, but our team of Prison Law advisors are available to help you deal with a wide range of prison law matters. We provide honest and clear advice on the legal difficulties that are affecting you or your loved one.
Call us today on 01865 592670 to discuss your case, email [email protected] or complete our enquiry form.
Our Prison Law Services
We provide services in a variety of areas of Prison Law.
Independent Adjudications →
Independent adjudications occur when a prisoner violates their prison rules. The prisoner will go to a hearing (adjudication) and, if found guilty, may be charged and punished for the offence. The hearing may be conducted by an independent adjudicator, who is usually a District Judge. Our solicitors will be able to represent those facing an independent adjudication.
Parole Reviews for IPP Prisoners and Lifers →
The Parole Board will conduct a risk assessment for those serving IPP or life sentences to determine whether it would be safe to release them back into the community. The outcome of the Parole Review may determine whether a prisoner can be released. Legal representation is recommended for those facing a Parole Review.
Licence Recalls →
People on licence in the community can be recalled to prison for numerous reasons. Recalls often happen because the person on licence has breached specific licence conditions. We can assist with seeking a person’s re-release on licence as quickly as possible.
IPP Licence Terminations
For those serving IPP sentences, once ten years have passed since their first release on licence, they will automatically be considered for licence termination. Once a licence is terminated, they can no longer be recalled. Our solicitors can apply for an earlier termination.
IPP and Lifer Licence Variations →
Although IPP and life sentences have similarities, the licence conditions may vary. Our solicitors can help with applications to the Parole Board for licence variations.
Pre-Tariff Reviews →
The purpose of a pre-tariff review is to determine whether a prisoner is eligible to be moved to open conditions. This is determined by the Parole Board and Secretary of State and follows a similar structure to the general parole process. A risk assessment will be conducted that examines any progress the prisoner has made.
Home Detention Curfew Appeals →
Home Detention Curfew (HDC) is a scheme that allows people to be released from custody early with an electronic tag. Approval for HDC can be complex and depends on several factors. HDC is also known as “house arrest” or having a “tag”. Our solicitors can assist with appeals concerning HDC.
Re-Categorisation →
Re-categorisation refers to changing a person’s security category within a prison. A person is categorised according to their risk level. Different categories have different levels of freedom and rules. Our solicitors can help with challenges concerning categorisation decisions.
OASys and Sentence Plans →
OASys, or the Offender Assessment System, measures the risks and needs of each prisoner. Sentence plans are given to prisoners and outline how they can prepare for release back into the community. The plan may contain specific goals that a prisoner needs to complete. We can help prisoners with OASys and their sentence plans so that they can move closer to release.
Sentence Calculations →
Knowing and understanding the prison sentence is vital. Sentence calculations can be complicated, and it is not uncommon for prisoners to receive sentences involving different terms of imprisonment. Our team at Reeds can provide advice about sentence calculations.
Advice on What to Expect When a Family Member or Friend Is in Custody
Having a family member or friend in custody is undeniably upsetting and stressful. Our team can help you understand what to expect and what to do.
Extended Sentences →
There are multiple types of extended sentence that a prisoner may serve. Due to the similarities between them, it can be difficult to understand what each one means. Our expert team can guide you through the process, ensure that the sentenced person is being treated fairly and explain what to expect.
The list above is not exhaustive. Our specialist team can advise on various Prison Law issues, including providing advice to family and friends when a person is in custody.
Costs
Legal Aid is available for a limited number of services and is subject to an assessment of income and savings. These include matters such as recalls, parole reviews and adjudications.
Other matters, such as HDC, re-categorisation and sentence planning, cannot be dealt with through Legal Aid. However, we can still assist with such matters on a privately paying basis. Please contact us for an individually tailored quote.
What Reeds Can Do for You
No matter where you or your loved one is in the prison system, we can provide advice and assistance in a wide range of circumstances. Even if you simply need advice about a first period in custody, we can assist on a private fee basis.
Contact Us
To find out more about our staff or services, call us today on 01865 592670 or email [email protected] to discuss your case. Or send a confidential enquiry.
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How We Can Help
Our Prison Law Solicitors are some of the most experienced in the country. Many are also specialists in Criminal Defence law. We are instructed by people from across England and Wales and are known for our hard work, intelligence, and focus on protecting our clients’ best interests.
Regardless of what happened to result in you being held in custody, you have a series of fundamental human rights that must be observed. We are dedicated to ensuring our clients receive fair parole hearings and ‘nickings’ adjudications.
Although people aged between 18-25 are not sent to full adult prisons, they are often vulnerable. We provide expert advice and representation on all legal problems you may encounter in prison and explain things in plain English.
Our Prison Law Solicitors can help you with a full range of matters, including but not limited to sentence calculations, determinant and indeterminant recalls, independent adjudication, parole hearings, and more. Regardless of how complicated your case is, we can provide the expertise and experience you need.
We are regularly instructed to help people who have received incorrect Sentence Plans or sentence calculation issues. We understand it can be hard to challenge sentencing issues, especially if you are being denied Legal Aid because you have been told you have not exhausted all the complaint methods available within the prison system. You can be confident that we will swiftly spot any inaccuracies in your sentence calculation or Sentence Plan and robustly represent you to ensure matters are corrected.
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