This glossary provides an alphabetical guide to some of the terminology in our reports. We review this glossary regularly, but please let us know if you find any entries that need updating. Email us at HMIPrisons.Enquiries@hmiprisons.gov.uk
AA
Appropriate adult (independent individual who provides support to children and vulnerable adults in custody)
Access to Justice laptops
Secure laptops provided to prisoners to access digital evidence and legal materials for their cases. They are part of the HMPPS Access to Digital Evidence (A2DE) framework, designed to support fair access to justice while maintaining prison security
ACCT
Assessment, care in custody and teamwork – case management for prisoners at risk of suicide or self-harm
ACDT
Assessment, care in detention and teamwork – case management for detainees at risk of suicide or self-harm in IRCs
ACR
Automatic conditional release – applies to prisoners serving over 12 months and less than four years
Adult at risk
A person aged 18 years or over, ‘who is or may be in need of community care services by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness; and who is or may be unable to take care of him or herself, or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation’ (Department of Health, 2000)
Alcohol-related violence programme (ARV)
Programme to reduce alcohol-related violent offending
Allocation
The process of deciding which institution prisoners are sent to, or what activities they do
Application
Form that prisoners fill in to make requests
Asset/e-Asset
Youth Justice Board assessment documentation completed by youth offending teams.
Association
Time when prisoners are allowed to mix with each other outside their cells
Authority to detain notification (IS91)
A written form which allows someone to be kept in immigration detention under the powers of the Immigration Act 1971. It must be served on every detained person, including children, at the time of their initial detention
Automatic release date (ARD)
Many prisoners on standard determinate sentences are automatically released at the halfway point, but there are exceptions to this for some offence types and sentence lengths
AVID Detention
National network of visitor groups to people in immigration detention
Bail for Immigration Detainees (BID)
Charity providing free legal advice, information and representation to people held in detention across the UK
Band 3 prison officer
All prison officers start their career at Band 3
Band 4 prison officer
There are two types of Band 4 prison officer: Band 4 supervising officer and Band 4 prison officer specialist
Big Word
Translation and interpreting service
BOSS chair
Body orifice security scanner
Bradley Report (2009)
Review of people with mental health problems or learning disabilities in the criminal justice system
Buddies
A type of prisoner peer supporter
Building Choices
An accredited HMPPS cognitive-behavioural programme, delivered through group and one-to-one sessions. It focuses on developing skills in emotion management, healthy thinking, relationships, sense of purpose, and, where relevant, healthy sexual behaviour. The programme is tailored to individual risk and need, including those with learning disabilities or challenges, and aims to support positive change and reduce reoffending
Building Skills for Recovery (BSR)
Course that aims to reduce offending behaviour and problematic substance misuse
Canteen
Shop where prisoners can buy goods
CARE (Choices, Actions, Relationships and Emotions)
Programme for female prisoners
Care Act 2014
Outlines obligations on local authorities, including the way they assess and define need, charge and pay for care, safeguarding, dealing with provider failure and transition of children to adult services
Care and separation unit (CSU)
Prisoners can be moved to care and separation units for their own safety if they are at risk of violence from other prisoners.
Care experienced
A person who has experience of being in local authority care, regardless of their placement length, type or age
Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW)
Organisation that registers, inspects and takes action to improve the quality and safety of services for people in Wales
Care leaver
A young person who has been in the care of, or has been given accommodation by, their local authority for a period of at least 13 weeks before the age of 16
Care programme approach (CPA)
A framework designed to assess and support individuals with a mental illness
Care Quality Commission (CQC)
The independent regulator of health and social care in England
Category A
Prisoners on the highest category of security risk whose escape would be highly dangerous
Category B
Prisoners for whom the highest conditions of security are not necessary but for whom escape must be made very difficult
Category C
Prisoners who cannot be trusted in open conditions but who do not have the will or resources to make a determined escape attempt
Category D
Prisoners who can be reasonably trusted to serve their sentence in open conditions
Cell call bell
Button in cell to summon staff in an emergency
Cell sharing risk assessment (CSRA)
Used to identify prisoners at risk of seriously harming someone they share a cell with
Certified normal accommodation (CNA)
Baseline CNA is the sum total of all certified accommodation in an establishment except cells in segregation units, health care cells or rooms that are not routinely used to accommodate long stay patients. In-use CNA is baseline CNA less those places not available for immediate use, such as damaged cells, cells affected by building works, and cells taken out of use due to staff shortages
CFO activity hub
Funded by HMPPS Creating Future Opportunities, the hub supports prisoners on licence to move into education, employment or training on release
Challenge, support and intervention plan (CSIP)
Used by all adult prisons to manage those prisoners who are violent or pose a heightened risk of being violent. These prisoners are managed and supported on a plan with individualised targets and regular reviews. Not everyone who is violent is case managed on CSIP. Some prisons also use the CSIP framework to support victims of violence
Child criminal exploitation (CCE)
Where children and young people are targeted by criminals and gangs to get them to engage in criminal activity
Children with restricted status
Any child or young adult prisoner convicted or on remand whose escape would present a serious risk to the public, and who is required to be held in designated secure accommodation.
Children’s Rights Service
Providing children and young people with an independent visitor and/or an advocate.
Choices and Changes
An HMPPS resource pack for key workers or prison offender managers to use in one-to-one sessions with young adults who have been identified as having low psychosocial maturity. The exercises in the pack aim to encourage engagement and help young adults to develop their maturity.
Clean, Rehabilitative, Enabling and Decent (CRED)
Prison-based skills programme run by Amey
Close supervision centre (CSC)
Small, specialist units located within six of the high security prisons, holding some of the most dangerous prisoners who have committed serious, often repeated, acts of violence against others while in prison
Commissioned rehabilitative services (CRS)
Part of the Ministry of Justice’s probation system, and designed to provide flexible, responsive services to help break the cycle of reoffending
Commonwealth officers
Prison officers recruited from Commonwealth countries by HMPPS under a tailored skilled worker visa scheme to help address staffing shortages. They work in frontline custody roles alongside existing staff and support day-to-day prison operations
Community Accommodation Service, Tier 2 (CAS-2)
Previously known as Bail, Accommodation and Support Service (BASS) – a contracted service which provides short-term accommodation for those who have no suitable accommodation and may otherwise be held in custody
Community resolution
A type of out-of-court disposal used to deal with low-level offences or antisocial behaviour through an informal agreement between the parties involved. It is an alternative to cases being progressed through the traditional criminal justice process.
Compact-based drug testing (CBDT)
Where offenders sign a compact to remain drug free and testing is carried out to measure their compliance
Comparator
Used in HMI Prisons’ surveys; the comparator figure is calculated by aggregating all survey responses and so is not an average across establishments
Confidential access complaint
Complaints about prison staff or which are particularly sensitive or personal
Confidential access phone calls
Telephone calls which exempt prisoners from being monitored
Constant supervision
Takes place when the risk of suicide is deemed high and so the prisoner/child is directly observed by a specific officer for 24 hours a day
Control and restraint (C&R)
Used by officers and staff to physically restrain prisoners
County lines
Gangs and organised crime networks exploiting children to sell drugs. Often these children are made to travel across counties, and they use dedicated mobile phone ‘lines’ to supply drugs
COVAID
Control of violence and anger in impulsive drinkers (offending behaviour programme)
Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC)
The independent body that investigates potential miscarriages of justice in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland (CJINI)
Independent inspectorate with responsibility for inspecting all aspects of the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland apart from the judiciary
Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)
Prosecutes criminal cases that have been investigated by the police and other investigative organisations in England and Wales
Custodial manager (CM)
The most senior uniformed officers in a prison. They manage prison activities, often across multiple departments. Responsibilities include managing people and resources
CYP
Children and young people
DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service)
A DBS check is a record of a person’s criminal convictions and cautions
DEPMU
Home Office Detainee Escorting and Population Management Unit
Detached duty
Short-term postings for prison staff
Detention and training order (DTO)
An offender is subject, for the term specified in the order, to a period of detention and training followed by a period of supervision
Detention custody officer (DCO)
Custody officers in immigration removal centres
Disclosure rights
Information about when and how to disclose convictions when applying for employment
Discrimination incident reporting form (DIRF)
A form that prisoners can use to report discrimination
Double handcuffing
When a detainee’s wrists are handcuffed together and a further handcuff is applied to secure them to a member of staff
DSPD
Dangerous and severe personality disorder
Dublin Convention
A European Union law that determines which member state is responsible for considering an asylum claim and allows member states to transfer asylum
seekers to the responsible state
Duty governor
Governor in charge of routine operation of the prison
Dynamic security
Where prison staff develop awareness of individual prisoner behaviour and risk, and use this understanding to help create a safe and secure prison
Early removal scheme
Allows foreign national prisoners to be removed up to 365 days earlier than they would otherwise be released into the UK
E-ASSET
Electronic case management system for children and young people in custody
EBM (Enhanced behaviour monitoring)
Scheme including additional psychological intervention to help prisoners in open conditions
ECHR
European Court of Human Rights
ECSL (End of custody supervised licence)
A scheme intended to tackle overcrowding, which entails prisoners being released up to 70 days early and having their supervised licence in the community extended. Restrictions apply for certain categories of offences. ECSL started in October 2023 and ended in September 2024 (see SDS40)
Education, health and care plan (EHCP)
Provision that is additional to that which can normally be provided within a mainstream setting to meet a child or young person’s special educational needs. If a child or young person has an EHCP, this should continue while they are in custody
E-list
Escape list
Email a prisoner scheme
Allows families and friends of prisoners to send emails into the prison
Enforcement agent (bailiff)
Can visit homes to collect debts – such as Council Tax bills, parking fines, court fines and county court, high court or family court judgments
Estyn
Education and training inspectorate for Wales
ETE
Education, training and employment
Family days
Many prisons, in addition to normal visits, arrange ‘family days’ throughout the year. These are usually open to all prisoners who have small children, grandchildren, or other young relatives
Free-flow movement
Allows prisoners to move about the site unescorted
Gate
The official controlled entry point to a prison
General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
The regulator for pharmacies, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in Great Britain
Good order or discipline (GOOD)
A prisoner can be segregated for this reason if they behave in a way that prison staff think would put other people in danger or cause problems for the rest of the prison
GRT
Gypsy, Roma, Traveller
Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW)
The independent inspectorate and regulator of health care in Wales
Healthy Relationships Programme (HRP)
Prison-based programme for men to address domestic violence
Helen’s Law
2019 law placing a legal duty on parole boards to consider the cruelty of killers who refuse to give the location of a victim’s remains when assessing their release
Help With Prison Visits (HPV)
Provides a contribution towards prison visit costs for close relatives, partners or sole visitors
Hibiscus
British charity providing advocacy, support and specialist services to foreign national and black, minority, ethnic and refugee women in prison
His Majesty’s Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS)
Responsible for the administration of criminal, civil and family courts and tribunals in England and Wales
His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS)
Independently assesses the effectiveness and efficiency of police forces and fire and rescue services
His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS)
Provides independent scrutiny of both Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority
HMP
His Majesty’s Prison
His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS)
Carries out sentences given by the courts, in custody and the community, and rehabilitates people in its care through education and employment. HMPPS is an executive agency, sponsored by the Ministry of Justice
HOMES
A restraint system used by escorting teams on in-country, overseas and charter operations
Home detention curfew (HDC)
Early release ‘tagging’ scheme
Home detention curfew eligibility date (HDCED)
HDC eligibility dates are based on set criteria. Eligible prisoners will not automatically be released on HDC on that date
Horizon
A medium-intensity programme for those convicted of sexual offences
IAG
Information, advice and guidance
Illicit items
Items (such as drugs) that are restricted or used illegally within prison
Immigration, compliance and enforcement (ICE)
The area of the Home Office responsible for preventing abuse of the immigration system, increasing compliance with immigration law and pursuing immigration offenders
Immigration removal centre (IRC)
Immigration detainees are held in IRCs while their immigration status is resolved
Incentives scheme
Provides privileges as a tool for incentivising prisoners to abide by the rules and engage in the regime and rehabilitation. Privileges can be taken away from those who behave poorly or refuse to engage
Incentivised substance-free living (ISFL)
Dedicated prison units for prisoners who commit to living drug-free. Residents agree to a behavioural compact, undergo regular drug testing, and receive incentives such as extra time out of cell or access to activities. ISFL units provide a structured environment that promotes recovery, positive relationships, and healthier choices
Independent custody visitor (ICV)
Trained volunteers who visit police stations unannounced to check on the treatment and welfare of people held in police custody
Independent Monitoring Board (IMB)
Volunteers operating in every prison in England and Wales, and every immigration detention facility across the UK. They report on whether detainees are being treated fairly and humanely and given the support they need to turn their lives around
Independent review of progress (IRP)
Provide an assessment of how far prisons have addressed the concerns raised in HMI Prisons’ inspections. IRPs are carried out after an Urgent Notification has been issued, or after particularly troubling inspections
Indeterminate sentence for public protection (IPP)
Given to offenders who posed a significant risk of serious harm to the public. Although the IPP sentence was abolished in 2012, thousands of people subject to such a sentence are still in prison
Indeterminate sentence prisoner (ISP)
Generic term referring to both life sentence prisoners and those serving indeterminate sentences for public protection
Individual learning plan (ILP)
Most prisoners get an Individual Learning Plan listing the courses and training they should do in prison
Induction
Given to all prisoners when they enter prison
Initial classification
The process of assigning a security category to prisoners on admission
Insiders
Prisoners who introduce new arrivals to prison life
Integrated drug treatment system (IDTS)
Aims to increase the volume and quality of substance misuse treatment available to prisoners
Integrated offender management (IOM)
A cross-agency response to crime and reoffending
Intelligence report (IR)
Information collected and analysed by the prison service to prevent and detect crime, preserve order and discipline, and support offender management
Interception of communications
HMPPS can, where necessary and proportionate, intercept and restrict prisoner communications
Inter-departmental risk management team (IDRMT)
Prisoners subject to MAPPA (see ‘MAPPA’), and other prisoners considered to be high risk are assessed through IDRMT at meetings attended by key staff such as seconded probation staff, police intelligence officers, and nominated risk management staff
Kaizen
Accredited offender behaviour programme for adult men who are assessed as high or very high risk
Key worker scheme
Operates across the closed male estate and is one element of the Offender Management in Custody (OMiC) model. All prison officers have a caseload of around six prisoners. The aim is to enable staff to develop constructive, motivational relationships with prisoners, which can support and encourage them to work towards positive rehabilitative goals
Kinetic Youth
Registered charity that works with those in, or at risk of becoming involved in, the youth justice system
Koestler Trust
Awards scheme for art by offenders
Lammy Review (2017)
An independent review into the treatment of, and outcomes for black, Asian and minority ethnic individuals in the criminal justice system
Language Line
Telephone interpreting service
LAPPP
Local area public protection panel (Northern Ireland)
Lay Observers
Independent volunteers who check that prisoners escorted by private escort companies in England and Wales are treated decently
LDD
Learning difficulties and/or disabilities
LGBT+
HMI Prisons uses this term in reports to include lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people as well as other categories people use to describe their gender identity or their own understanding of their sexuality
Liaison and diversion (L&D)
Identifies people who have mental health, learning disability, substance misuse or other vulnerabilities when they first come into contact with the criminal justice system as suspects, defendants or offenders
Licence expiry date (LED)
The period on licence is usually the remainder of a prisoner’s sentence after they have been released from custody. Licence expiry date Date should be included on the notification the prison gives each prisoner when it works out their sentence
Listener
Prisoners trained by the Samaritans to provide confidential emotional support to fellow prisoners
Local Criminal Justice Board (LCJB)
Organised around police force areas and are mostly chaired by the Police and Crime Commissioner
LSAB
Local safeguarding adults board
LSCB
Local safeguarding children board
MALRAP
Multi-agency lifer risk assessment panel
Mandatory drug testing (MDT)
Enables prison officers to require a prisoner to supply a urine sample to determine if they have used drugs
MAPPA
Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements: the set of arrangements through which the police, probation and prison services work together with other agencies to manage the risks posed by violent, sexual and terrorism offenders living in the community, to protect the public
MARAC
Multi-agency risk assessment conference
MARAP
Multi-agency risk action plan
MARP
Multi-agency risk panel
MASH
Multi-agency safeguarding hub
Mental health in-reach team (MHIRT)
Offer a similar range of specialist care, treatment and support as provided by community-based mental health services
‘Merton’ compliant
The standard social services-conducted age assessment
Minimising and managing physical restraint (MMPR)
Guidance on managing young people in secure training centres and young offender institutions, with restraint only used as a last resort
MQPL
Measuring the quality of prison life survey
Nacro
Crime reduction charity
National referral mechanism (NRM)
A framework for identifying and referring potential victims of modern slavery and ensuring they receive the appropriate support
Nepacs
A north-east England charity which aims to support a positive future for individuals impacted by involvement in the criminal justice or care systems
Night sanitation
An electronic system, for prisoners in cells without toilets or running water, to be unlocked to access a toilet individually through the night
Non-parole release date (NPD)
The date on which a prisoner serving four years and over who has not been granted parole must be released
Northern Ireland Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (NIACRO)
A voluntary agency and registered charity providing services and policy comment within the Criminal Justice System
OBP
Offending behaviour programmes
Offender assessment system (OASys)
Assessment system for both prisons and probation, providing a framework for assessing the likelihood of reoffending and the risk of harm to others
Offender management in custody (OMiC)
Entails prison officers undertaking key work sessions with prisoners and case management, which established the role of the prison offender manager (POM) from 1 October 2019. On 31 March 2021, a specific OMiC model for male open prisons, which does not include key work, was rolled out
Offender management unit (OMU)
The aim of offender management units in prisons is to try to rehabilitate people so they are less likely to offend in the future
Official prison video conferencing (OPVC)
Available in all prisons to enable remote court hearings, as well as official visits and meetings (including legal and probation visits). OPVC is not used for social visits
Ofsted
Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills. Inspects services providing education and skills for learners of all ages
OPCAT
Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
OPD
Offender personality disorder
Operational capacity
The total number of prisoners that an establishment can hold without serious risk to good order, security and the proper running of the planned regime
Operational support grade (OSG)
Prison support role. Unlike prison officers, contact with prisoners tends to be limited
OSAG
HMPPS operational and system assurance group
Parole eligibility date (PED)
Eligibility dates for parole depend on what type of sentence prisoners have
Patient group directions
Enable nurses to supply and administer prescription-only medicine
Patrol state
When the prison is operating at the lowest safe staffing level required to function. Most prisoners are locked in their cells and activities are not delivered
PAVA
Pelargonic acid vanillylamide – incapacitant spray classified as a prohibited weapon by section 5(1) (b) of the Firearms Act 1988
PCC
Police and Crime Commissioner
PCoSO
Prisoner convicted of a sexual offence
PEI
Physical education instructor
Person escort record (PER)
Provides relevant details to escort suppliers and the receiving location
Personal emergency evacuation plan (PEEP)
A plan for a person who may need assistance, for instance, a person with impaired mobility, to evacuate a building or reach a place of safety
PGA
Prison Governors’ Association
Phoenix Futures
Substance misuse service provider
PIPE
Psychologically informed planned environment. PIPEs are specifically designed living areas where staff specially trained in psychological understanding aim to create a supportive environment that can facilitate the development of prisoners with challenging offender behaviour needs
P-Nomis
Prison national offender management information system – Prison Service IT system
POA
Prisons Officers’ Association
POM
Prison offender manager
Pre-sentence report (PSR)
Gives a sentencing court information about a person who has committed an offence
Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT)
Supports prisoners, people with convictions and their families across England & Wales
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO)
Independent organisation investigating deaths in custody, and complaints from people who are in custody or under community supervision
Prisoner custody officer (PCO)
Escort, supervise, and transport people from courts, police stations, hospitals or prisons
Prisoner Escort and Custody Services (PECS)
Provides secure transport of prisoners to and from police stations, courts, prisons, secure training centres and secure children’s homes
Privileged visiting order (PVO)
Can be given if a prison feels they are beneficial to a prisoner’s welfare, or as part of the incentives scheme
Prosocial
Social behaviour that benefits others
Prosocial modelling
Provision of consistent positive reinforcement for the expression of pro-social attitudes, values and behaviour; and the consistent challenging of antisocial attitudes and behaviour
Protected characteristics
The grounds upon which discrimination is unlawful (Equality and Human Rights Commission, 2010)
Protection of adults at risk
Safeguarding duties apply to an adult who: has needs for care and support (whether or not the local authority is meeting any of those needs); and is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect; and as a result of those care and support needs is unable to protect themselves from either the risk of, or the experience of, abuse and neglect (Care Act 2014)
PSI
Prison Service instruction
PSO
Prison Service order
Psychoactive substances
Naturally occurring, semi-synthetic or fully synthetic compounds. When taken they affect thought processes or individuals’ emotional state. In prisons, these substances are commonly referred to as ‘spice’
RAPt
Rehabilitation of Addicted Prisoners Trust – runs accredited drug and alcohol interventions
REAG
Prison Service race equality action group
RECONNECT
NHS England programme that seeks to maintain any health gains made in prison by supporting vulnerable people leaving prison to access or transition health or care needs to community-based services
Recovery champions
A type of prisoner mentor
Rehabilitative culture
Culture that motivates prisoners to progress
Release on temporary licence (ROTL)
Being able to leave the prison for a short time for specific activities
Resettlement day release (RDR)
Being released during the day, for example to take part in work or education, and returning to prison the same day
Resolve
Cognitive-behavioural intervention for violent offenders
Responsible adults
Independent people who check on the interests of a child being interviewed
Restorative justice
Programmes where offenders consider the consequences of their offending for all parties and can offer an apology or reparation
Roll check
Head count of all prisoners
ROR
Resettlement overnight release
Rule 35 of Detention Centre Rules
Requires notification to Home Office Immigration and Enforcement if a detainee’s health is likely to be injuriously affected by detention, including if they may have been the victim of torture
Safety interventions meeting (SIM)
A multi-disciplinary safety risk management meeting, chaired by a senior manager
SDS40
A scheme intended to tackle overcrowding where prisoners serving a standard determinate sentence only spend 40% of their sentence in prison instead of 50% and their time on probation in the community is extended. Restrictions apply for certain categories of offences. SDS40 replaces ECSL and releases commenced in September 2024
Secure training centre (STC)
A place of detention for children aged 12 to 17
Secure social video calling
A system commissioned by HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) to enable calls with friends and family. The system requires users to download an app to their phone or computer. Before a call can be booked, users must upload valid ID
Segregation
When prisoners are kept apart from other prisoners, either because they have behaved in a way that would put other people in danger/cause problems for the rest of the prison, or if prison staff think they are in danger
Shannon Trust
Charity that supports people in prison to learn to read
SMARG
Segregation monitoring and review group
SMT
Senior management team
SO
Senior officer
Social care package
A level of personal care to address needs identified following a social needs assessment undertaken by the local authority (i.e. assistance with washing, bathing, toileting, activities of daily living etc, but not medical care)
SOTP
Sexual offender treatment programme
Special accommodation
Unfurnished accommodation – used to manage prisoners who cannot be located safely in normal accommodation
Special purpose licence ROTL
Special purpose licence allows prisoners to respond to exceptional, personal circumstances, for example, for medical treatment and other criminal justice needs. Release is usually for a few hours
Spice
A synthetic drug that mimics the effects of cannabis but is often much stronger, with no discernable odour
SPR
Sentence planning review
Storybook Dads (also, Mums)
Enables prisoners to record a story for their children
Short-term holding facility (STHF)
Holds people for a short time while immigration authorities decide what to do with them
Sycamore Tree
Victim awareness course
Synthetic cannabinoids
Drugs that mimic the effects of cannabis but are much stronger, with no discernable odour
TACT
Terrorism Act 2000
Tariff
The minimum time to serve, set by the court, before prisoners on IPPs can be considered for release
Temporary presumptive recategorisation scheme (TPRS)
A scheme intended to tackle overcrowding, which requires governors to fast track prisoners to open establishments without the usual restrictions. Restrictions apply for certain categories of offences. TPRS was introduced in March 2023
Therapeutic community
Provides group-based therapy within a social climate that promotes positive relationships, personal responsibility and social participation. It addresses a range of prisoner needs, including interpersonal relationships, emotional regulation, self-management and psychological well-being
Thinking Skills Programme (TSP)
Cognitive skills programme addressing offenders’ thinking and behaviour
Time out of cell
In addition to formal ‘purposeful activity’, includes any time prisoners are out of their cells to associate or use communal facilities to take showers or make telephone calls
Turning Pages
A reading programme created by the Shannon Trust, written specifically for adults (unlike its predecessor Toe by Toe) and delivered by peer mentors
Twinning Project
A partnership between HMPPS and professional football clubs to twin every prison in England and Wales with a local professional football club, to engage prisoners in football-based programmes to improve their mental and physical health and well-being, and obtain a qualification to help improve their life chances and gain employment on release
UK Border Force (UKBF)
A law enforcement command within the Home Office. Carries out immigration and customs controls for people and goods entering the UK
Unannounced inspection
Prison inspection carried out without notice to the prison
Unfurnished cell
A cell that is totally unfurnished or does not contain basic items of furniture. Used for the temporary confinement of a violent or refractory prisoner to prevent them injuring themselves or others, damaging property or creating a disturbance
UNLOCK
National charity for people with convictions, helping them to overcome the long term disadvantage of a criminal record to reach their potential by providing information, advice and advocacy
Urgent Notification (UN)
Allows His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons to directly alert the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice if he has an urgent and significant concern about the performance of a prison
Virtual campus
Internet access to community education, training and employment opportunities for prisoners
Virtual learning environment
Computer system to help prisoners access external course materials and search for jobs
Visiting order (VO)
Sent by prisoners to people they wish to visit them
ViSOR
Violent and sexual offenders register
Voluntary drug testing (VDT)
Prisoners are expected to take a VDT once a month as part of their good behaviour compact with the prison
Vulnerable prisoner unit (VPU)
A unit or a wing where some prisoners stay if the prison believes they are at risk from others
Youth Custody Service (YCS)
Responsible for the operational running of public sector sites across youth secure estate, for children and young people between 10-17 in England and Wales. Also responsible for commissioning services and contractual management of private people remanded or sentenced to custody
Youth Justice Board (YJB)
Non-departmental public body responsible for overseeing the youth justice system in England and Wales
Young offender institution (YOI)
Secure accommodation that children may be placed in if they are in custody. Young offender institutions are for boys aged 15–17 and young adult men aged 18–21
Youth offending team (YOT)
Work with young people that get into trouble with the law, are arrested, or taken to court, to help them stay away from crime
Zahid Mubarek Trust
Independent national charity founded in 2009 by the family of 19-year-old Zahid Mubarek, who was murdered by his racist cellmate on the morning scheduled for his release from Feltham Young Offender Institution