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Articles by Ryan Harman
Approved Premises
In September 2025, HMPPS published a new policy covering how Approved Premises should operate. The Community Accommodation Service Tier 1 (CAS1): Approved Premises policy framework replaces the previous probation instruction. Approved Premises (APs) provide a high level of supervision for higher risk prison leavers and people on probation. The policy says that men must be classified as High Risk of serious harm and women can be high or medium risk of serious harm to be considered for placement.
Neurodiversity Support Managers
In 2021, prison inspectors estimated that “perhaps half of those entering prison could reasonably be expected to have some form of neurodivergent condition”. Neuro-divergent conditions include ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia, learning disabilities, acquired brain injury, and other similar conditions. Since 2022, the prison service has introduced a Neurodiversity Support Manager (NSM) to each prison in England and Wales.
The Secretary of State’s High Court referral power
The Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 introduced a Secretary of State power to refer certain release decisions of the Parole Board to the High Court. Following a referral, the High Court will then decide whether the prisoner can be released or must stay in prison for the protection of the public. This power came into force on 31 December 2025. Guidance has been published to give more detail about how this Secretary of State power applies.
After a death in custody
When someone dies in custody it can have a significant impact on those around them and may leave questions about what happens next. In this article, we focus on what happens after a death in prison, what investigations take place, how you can feed your concerns into the process if you want to, and how to get support if you need it. This information is set out in the Follow-up to Deaths in Custody Policy Framework.
Prison Reform Trust: Pre-release and resettlement services
If you are coming towards your release, you may be having conversations with staff about your resettlement back into the community. Resettlement services in prisons have changed over the years, so it can help to understand what support is available. Below we explain some of the teams and services you may hear referred to in prison when talking about resettlement. Pre-release teams (PRTs) are part of the probation service and support the work of your Community Offender Manager (COM).
ISP progression panels
In July, HMPPS published the Progression Panels for Indeterminate Sentences Policy Framework in line with objectives in the IPP Action Plan. Progression panels are described as “multi-disciplinary meetings which ensure that those serving indeterminate sentences are on the appropriate progression pathway with access to appropriate interventions”. Progression panels must consider: a. Is there an appropriate progression pathway identified? b.
Building Choices
Building Choices is an accredited Offending Behaviour Programme which is being introduced across prisons in England and Wales. It is informed by the latest evidence about what works to reduce reoffending.
Risk Assessed Recall Review
If you are currently in prison on recall, you may have heard the term ‘Risk Assessed Recall Review’ (RARR) being used by prison and probation staff. This term refers to a process of re-release which used to be known as ‘executive release’. With almost one in five of the sentenced prison population currently on recall and this expected to rise to around 13,650 people by 2026, the recall population is undoubtedly contributing to overcrowding in prisons.
Family support and safety
A longstanding area of concern for the Prison Reform Trust (PRT) has been the barriers faced by family members wanting to communicate with prisons about risks to their loved ones’ safety. We have previously worked with the Prison Advice and Care Trust (Pact) to raise concerns about family members’ experiences of this through our 2019 report, ‘Keeping People Safe in Prison’.
The Victim Contact Scheme
The Victim Contact Scheme (VCS) in England and Wales is a service designed to keep victims of certain crimes informed about what happens to the person convicted of the offence after they have been sentenced. It is worth having some understanding of how this works so that you know if and when information about your sentence will be shared with any victims. The Victim Contact Scheme (VCS) Policy Framework includes detailed information about how the scheme works.
Reporting staff corruption
Reporting staff misconduct can be a challenge for someone in prison. Fears of repercussions and limited ability to prove an allegation can deter people from using the internal complaint processes. However, if you believe a member of staff is acting corruptly there is an avenue to raise this outside of the internal complaints process. The ‘HMPPS Integrity Hotline’ is a free number which you can call on: 0800 917 6877 to report staff corruption.
The Parole Board and maintaining innocence
In July 2024 the Parole Board published “Guidance on Prisoners Who Maintain Their Innocence.” The guidance is aimed at Parole Board members who are making decisions about people maintaining their innocence, and how they should take this into consideration. The guidance defines the term ‘maintaining innocence’ as referring to ‘those who continue to deny an offence for which they have been convicted at Court – usually the index offence but sometimes a different or historic offence’.
Challenge, Support and Intervention Plan (CSIP)
In November, HMPPS published the Prison Safety Policy Framework which replaced the previous PSI relating to safety. It includes details of the Challenge, Support and Intervention Plan (CSIP) process which has been operating in prisons for some time. The policy describes CSIP as ‘the violence reduction case management model’ used for prisoners who display challenging violent behaviour or pose a raised risk of being violent.
Progressive transfers for ISPs
In November, HMPPS published the Progressive Transfers for Indeterminate Sentence Prisoners (ISP) Policy Framework. This policy is in line with a strand of the IPP Action Plan, updated in April 2023, to ‘enable the swifter and more effective movement of those serving IPP sentences through prisons’ but it applies to all indeterminate sentences.
Effective complaints
We regularly advise people to use the Prison Service complaints system to raise concerns about their treatment. But how you write a complaint can make a difference to how effective it is and how likely you are to get a satisfactory response. It can help to start with a brief introduction which tells staff what the complaint is about. This gives staff an understanding of the nature of the complaint as they read through the details.
Address checks
With the recent waves of early releases, the need to have addresses checked and approved by probation will have been on the minds of many readers. In August, HMPPS published the Address Checks Policy Framework which outlines when and how these checks should be done.
Understanding risk
In 2022, our Building Futures programme published Making Progress, a report about what progression means for people serving the longest sentences. Amongst other things it highlighted some of the limitations of risk assessments used within the prison system, and made recommendations about improving information for long term prisoners around risk assessment and risk reduction. There is no easy or straightforward answer to how you reduce your risk levels, as it will differ from one person to another.
OASys reviews
Since the cancellation of PSO 2205 Offender Assessment and Sentence Management (OASys) there has been little information in the public domain about the current timeframes for OASys reviews to take place. Given the frequency of enquiries about this, we recently made a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to HMPPS for the current policy in relation to this.
Payback punishments
A revised adjudications policy has been published which applies to any adjudications begun on or after 31 May 2024. One of the most significant changes is the ability for governors to give ‘payback punishments’ as part of the adjudication process. Payback punishments are unpaid projects in the prison which you can be required to complete following an adjudication. Payback punishments are available for all offences heard by a governor, and the maximum period that can be imposed is 12 hours.
Heatwave guidance in prisons
HMPPS provide Governors with Heatwave Guidance for Prisons which is written in line with plans and guidance issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). The guidance recognises that there are certain factors, as identified by the UKHSA, that increase an individual’s risk during a heatwave. These include: • Those over 65 years old, particularly those who may be unable to care for themselves, such as those who depend on others for routine activities or in a care facility such as a prison.
Might you be eligible for a visiting carer?
The Care Act 2014 says that the local authority where you are in prison must assess you if there is a possibility you have social care needs. If prison staff think that someone in prison has social care needs, they should let the local authority know so an assessment can be arranged. This referral will trigger the authority’s responsibility to assess you and see if there is support you should get.
New ‘sunshine’ regimes are a welcome step
There are few clear rules in published policy about how long you can be held behind your door. Determining what you should expect from a prison regime has involved piecing together minimum requirements from various policies – such as time in the open air, minimum access to domestics such as telephones and showers, and minimum access to facilities like the library.
Prison account cap
Over the last couple of years, one issue that has been repeatedly brought to our attention through our advice service and our prisoner policy network is the impact of a cap imposed on prison accounts. This change took place in November 2020 when HMPPS published a revised Finance Manual – a national policy on how prisons manage their finances.
Personal photographs of children
Having photos of loved ones in prison is one of the small things that can help with the difficulties of being separated from family. However, when it comes to personal photographs of children, prison staff must consider whether it is appropriate for individuals to have these in their possession whilst in prison.
Use of force - insidetime & insideinformation
From 31 December 2023, the long-awaited Use of Force (UoF) Policy Framework will replace previous policies which have been in force for many years. The policy sets out the circumstances in which force can be lawfully used in prisons. For use of force to be lawful, it must be necessary, reasonable, and proportionate to the seriousness of the circumstances.
Use of force
From 31 December 2023, the long-awaited Use of Force (UoF) Policy Framework will replace previous policies which have been in force for many years. The policy sets out the circumstances in which force can be lawfully used in prisons. For use of force to be lawful, it must be necessary, reasonable, and proportionate to the seriousness of the circumstances.
Rights on remand
The number of people held in prison on remand is rising. As of 30 June 2023, 15,523 people were held on remand in England and Wales, 16% higher than June 2022 and the highest level for at least 50 years. If you are being held in prison but not yet tried you are considered to be an ‘unconvicted’ prisoner. If you are an unconvicted prisoner you have a number of special rights and privileges which the prison should adhere to.
Prioritisation of Offending Behaviour Programmes
During the pandemic, restricted regimes meant that interventions such as Offending Behaviour Programmes (OBPs) were not able to run as usual. This inevitably caused delays to people accessing OBPs on their sentence plan and a backlog for some programmes in certain prisons. During this period, HMPPS introduced ‘Offending Behaviour Programme Prioritisation Principles’ to help decide who of the people waiting for a particular programme would be offered a space first.
Reversal of changes to open conditions suitability test
As of July 2023 the test for considering whether someone serving an indeterminate sentence is suitable for open conditions has been changed. The changes remove criteria that have created barriers for many over the past year and which caused the number of positive recommendations approved by the Secretary of State to drop dramatically.
Help for foreign nationals
In March 2023 there were 10,148 foreign nationals in prisons in England and Wales, accounting for 12 per cent of the prison population. Many will be liable for deportation at the end of their prison term. Deportation can be a complex process, as can appealing it for those who choose to. Some foreign nationals may have difficulty understanding English. Not understanding what is happening can make prison life even more difficult.
Cell sharing risk assessment
In a prison system that has been overcrowded for years, sharing a cell has long been the norm for many people in prison. Whenever someone shares a cell, prison staff must conduct a risk assessment check to ensure that it is safe for them to do so. The cell sharing risk assessment (CSRA) process, as described by PSI 20/2015, is designed to assess the risk that someone could murder or violently assault someone they are sharing a cell with.
Segregation Review Boards
In April 2022, HM Prison and Probation Service published additional guidance to Prison Service Order 1700, ‘Segregation’. This guidance gives more detail about how Segregation Review Boards (SRBs) should work. SRBs consider whether to authorise continued segregation under Prison Rule 45 (YOI Rule 49). An SRB should meet to consider a case within 72 hours of initial segregation and then at no more than 14-day intervals thereafter.
Your property in prison
In August 2022, HMPPS published the Prisoners Property Policy Framework which replaced the previous policy PSI 12/2011. One of the key changes relates to the amount of property you are allowed to have at the prison.
Is your cell up to scratch?
It is a legal requirement under section 14 of the Prison Act 1952 that any accommodation in prisons and young offender institutions must have been certified before it can be used to hold people overnight. The Certified Prisoner Accommodation Policy Framework sets out the minimum requirement. Below we have included some key details from the Accommodation Standard within this policy, though be aware there is more detail within the policy.
Prison Reform Trust
Reporting crime in prison Anyone can be a victim of crime, and this of course includes people in prison. Despite this, callers to our service are not always sure how to report crimes to the police. The ‘Crime in Prison Referral Agreement’ sets out the agreement between HM Prison and Probation Service, the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the Crown Prosecution Service in relation to the reporting of crime in prison.
Power to detain dangerous prisoners
A new provision set out in section 132 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts (PCSC) Act 2022 enables the Secretary of State to refer people serving certain Standard Determinate Sentence (SDS) to the Parole Board instead of automatically releasing them at their Conditional Release Date (CRD), which would normally be at the halfway or two-thirds points of these sentences.
The harms of long-term imprisonment
Building Futures is a programme at the Prison Reform Trust, making a positive difference for people who will spend ten years or more in custody. In March, we asked readers of Inside Time serving ten years or more: What are the main ways long sentences harm people? And … What can you do to make your time meaningful? We received 28 responses. Here, we will sum up the answers to the first question. We’ll report on the second question in a later edition.
Providing for a vegan diet
The number of people turning to veganism has been increasing for a number of years and it is estimated that the number of British people eating a vegan diet quadrupled between 2014-2019 and is now over 600,000. It appears this is no less the case in prison, where we understand that approximately 800 prisoners eat a vegan diet – about 1% of the prison population.
PIPE units
We get regular calls asking us for information about ‘PIPE’ units, often after the possibility of a referral has come up in discussion with staff. PIPEs, which stands for ‘Psychologically Informed Planned Environments’, are residential environments which are specifically designed to support the progression of people with complex needs and personality related difficulties.
The experience of long-term imprisonment
Building Futures is a programme at the Prison Reform Trust, making a positive difference for people who will spend ten years or more in custody. Previously, we asked people: “What is it like for you having to spend such a long time in prison?” We were grateful to receive 59 replies. A range of issues had to do with families, such as the importance of their support, feeling they had been burdened, and wanting them to be involved in sentence planning.
Accuracy of prison records
A common issue raised by people calling our service is inaccurate information on their prison or probation records. This could relate to factual inaccuracies, such as incorrect information about previous convictions or an adjudication that was overturned on appeal but has not been properly amended on prison records to show this. Inaccurate information could make progressing through your sentence more difficult – it may affect things like categorisation or even parole for example.
Ryan Harman - Prison Reform Trust
When someone dies in custody it can have a significant impact on those around them and may leave questions In July, HMPPS published the Progression Panels for Indeterminate Sentences Policy Framework in line with objectives in the IPP Building Choices is an accredited Offending Behaviour Programme which is being introduced across prisons in England and Wales.
Prison Reform Trust: Additional licence conditions
If you are released on licence, you will be given a list of conditions which you will be expected to abide by. These are called your licence conditions. Breaching your licence conditions could mean that you get recalled back to prison so it is important to understand what they mean. Information about licence conditions can be found in the Licence Conditions Policy Framework which was published in July this year. There are seven standard licence conditions.
Access to information during COVID-19 pandemic
Access to accurate information in prison can be a challenge at the best of times, and under the current circumstances it is likely to be even more difficult than usual. Here are some ways you can still access information during this period, so that you can find out what things might mean for you and check the accuracy of any local rumours you may have heard.
Security Categorisation
In February, HMPPS published the Security Categorisation Policy Framework. This document has details about how the categorisation process is changing across the prison estate. This policy is being rolled out in stages and will only come into force at the prison you are in when the Digital Categorisation Service (DCS) is in use there. The DCS is described as ‘an online form and the mechanism for making, recording and justifying categorisation decisions.
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