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Failure to draw on family support is a missed opportunity in prisons

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Prisons too often fail to understand and develop the potential benefits of family contact, according to a new report, published today. The findings from HM Inspectorate of Prisons reveal that jails are not doing enough to help maintain these essential relationships, despite compelling evidence that they can improve the safety of prisoners and reduce the risk that they will reoffend.

The thematic review draws on fieldwork carried out in eight prisons where inspectors had previously identified positive work with families. Although there was some excellent practice in these jails, it rarely formed part of a wider, strategic approach to involve families in supporting good behaviour and rehabilitation.

Too many jails were failing to get the basics right, making it difficult for families to book visits, get to the establishment, and access financial support. When prisoners first arrived in jail it took too long for family members to find out where they were held and to be able to contact them – at a time when prisoners were often at their most vulnerable. Prisons rarely involved families in supporting men and women at risk of self-harm or violence, and concerningly, families could not always get through to prisons by telephone to tell them about welfare and safety concerns. Disappointingly, release on temporary licence was not used effectively to support family contact and rehabilitation in any of the men’s prisons inspectors visited.

In general, the prisons relied heavily on external providers and volunteers to lead family provision, and it was too often seen as a ‘nice to have’ rather than an essential element in a prisoner’s journey through custody and towards resettlement.

This thematic review is a powerful illustration of the critical role that families and friends can play in the lives of prisoners, helping to support mental and physical well-being, a sense of purpose and a desire to change.

Despite this, the prison service has not developed a comprehensive strategic approach to family contact, and there is little understanding of the contribution that families make to safer and more purposeful prisons.

Prison leaders face constant pressure to prioritise competing areas of work and must make difficult decisions about where to focus resources. The evidence presented here suggests that family work should be seen as essential both for prison safety and reducing the risk that prisoners will reoffend.
Chief Inspector of Prisons, Charlie Taylor

Notes to editor

  1. ‘Safety, well-being and hope: The untapped potential of family contact in prisons’ is published on the HM Inspectorate website on 17 March 2026.
  2. HM Inspectorate of Prisons is an independent inspectorate, inspecting places of detention to report on conditions and treatment and promote positive outcomes for those detained and the public.
  3. This thematic review draws on findings from eight visits to men’s and women’s prisons in April and May 2025, data provided by HM Prison and Probation Service, and surveys carried out in 38 men’s and women’s prisons between April 2024 and March 2025.  
  4. The eight prisons visited represented a range of functional types, geographical areas and private and public sector establishments. They were: Ashfield, Askham Grange, Durham, Grendon, Low Newton, Manchester, Parc and Wealstun.
  5. Fieldwork carried out at the prisons included: interviews and discussion groups with prisoners, discussion groups with officers and family provider staff, meetings with senior leaders and conversations with prison visitors.
  6. Please email media@hmiprisons.gov.uk if you would like more information.