Inmate Calls – June 2020 Blog
In today’s Blog I will be providing a list of Key websites/Information websites (in no particular order) that are in my opinion vital for families and friends of inmates to know.
Inside time is a newspaper that is given to prisoners throughout the UK. Inmates can write to Insidetime giving their view,ask questions about prison, legal queries and much more. The website provides news articles for family and friends to read and has a section for common questions about Prison life and general information.
Supporting prisoners financially is important so the prisoner can purchase items weekly from the canteen such as food, clothes, toiletries etc. This service is free and payment can be made via Mastercard, Visa and Maestro debit cards. Money usually takes less than 3 working days to reach a prisoner’s account, but may take longer.
To send money to the prisoner all that is required is the name of the prisoner, Date of birth and Prisoner Number.
Secure Payment Services is same service as above however it is not a free service and there is a charge to send money and the service is only limited to 16 prisoners (AS PER 1 JUNE 2020). This service may cost however I have personally noticed that the prisoner I have sent money to using this service is considerably faster compared to the free service. I have sent money to the prisoner before 09:30 AM on a working day and the prisoner has received the money on the same working day.
Prisoners Advice Service is an independent legal charity that helps prisoners and represents them inhuman and legal rights, conditions of imprisonment and the application of Prison Law and the Prison Rules. It has prisoner advice lines where prisoners can speak to a support worker. Support workers can write to prisons and help resolve issues and represent you if you have legal aid. I have personally found this legal charity very helpful, the team is extremely helpful in difficult times and would recommend them to anyone who requires help or advice be it prisoners or family of prisoners.
This is a charity that provides advice and support on all aspects of arrest, going to court and prison to family members. The charity has a helpline which is open 9am – 8pm Monday to Friday and 10am – 3pm Saturday and Sunday.
The CCRC (Criminal Cases Review Commission) is an independent organization set up to investigate suspected miscarriages of justice in the UK. Where someone has already tried to appeal their case, but that appeal has failed, the CCRC can investigate the case and consider whether it should go back to the appeal court for a fresh appeal.