Prison Law Solicitors: Prison Law specialists
Our experienced Prison Law Solicitors offer legal advice and support to anyone currently in prison.
If you or a loved one is in prison, it is important to ensure your best interests and rights are being upheld. Prisoners often need legal advisers on their side, no matter the sentence received.
Representation from criminal defence solicitors can ensure you or your loved one's rights are protected during this difficult and stressful time.
As a specialist criminal law firm, we are dedicated to ensuring those who have been convicted of a crime receive fair treatment in prison. We have successfully represented prisoners since 1998, so you know your welfare is in trusted hands. For legal representation or advice while in prison, call Draycott Browne today.
How can our prison law solicitors help?
Whilst in prison, legal representation can be very important when following the processes and procedures that are part and parcel of prison life. It is key that you choose to work with a highly skilled legal team who will put your interests first and fight your corner every step of the way. Look no further than Draycott Browne.
We provide representation, advice, and assistance for the following:
- Parole Board Representation
- Independent Adjudications
- Appeals
- Judicial reviews
- Sentence calculations
- Prison recalls
- Other types of Oral Hearing Representation
We are also able to help with any problems that you may be experiencing whilst in custody. Areas we can assist with include, helping with the complaints process in the event you are not happy with any element of your prison stay, and helping inmates transfer to another prison, often so that they can be nearer to family, friends or loved ones.
Draycott Browne has decades of experience in taking legal action on behalf of prisoners who are mistreated, or subject to any types of injustice throughout their sentence. Please contact our Prison Law Team today if you believe you are being treated unfairly while in prison in the UK.
Specialist expertise in navigating all matters related to prison law.
Our Prison Law Experts
Could I get a release on temporary licence?
A Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) is a permit to allow prisoners to leave the prison for a brief period of time. There are a few reasons that may make you eligible for a ROTL, such as:
- Commitment to authorised paid or unpaid work
- Meeting children for which you have been the sole carer before your sentence
- A close family member being seriously or terminally ill
- As a reapproaching period to your community before your release
Falling into one of these categories will not, in itself, make you eligible for a ROTL. There are many factors that play into your eligibility, and you will only be given a ROTL if the prison believes it is appropriate in your specific case. Our prison lawyers can help you build a strong case to get a ROTL, and will liaise with all parties involved, and fight for you and your rights.
You should consider that some categories of prisoners are automatically excluded from ROTL eligibility. These include:
- Category A or restricted status prisoners
- Prisoners on the escape list
- Prisoners undergoing extradition proceedings
- Prisoners that are on remand, unsentenced, or sentenced but remanded for additional charges
- Those held on behalf of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT)
Depending on your circumstances, you may be subject to restrictions on your ROTL. Additional information about the different types of Release on Temporary Licence can be found on the Prison Reform Trust website.
Our experienced Prison Law Solicitors have hands on experience with applications to leave prison, including all types of ROTL. In 2022, we helped someone convicted of serious crimes, and on a 10-year sentence, to obtain leave from the Court of Appeal.
Am I eligible for a category review?
Prisoners are assigned categories depending on the risk factors they represent to other inmates, prison staff, and the general public. The standard categories for prisoners in the UK are:
- Category A: Prisoners who represent the highest risk of harm and/or escape, and thus subject to the strictest security measures.
- Category B: Prisoners who are subject to preventive measures against escape, but do not represent as high of a risk as Category A.
- Category C: Prisoners who represent a mild risk factor, but are not trusted to be kept in an open prison.
- Category D: The most relaxed category in terms of security measures, and generally trusted to be in an open prison.
Most prisoners are kept in closed prisons, and only those in Category D are trusted in open prisons. They may have their own cell and keys, and are generally trusted to be subject to more lax restrictions.
You will have your security category reviewed regularly throughout most prison sentences. Category B and C prisoners will undergo a category review every year until they have 3 years left to serve, then one every 6 months. Category D prisoners do not attend category reviews except in special circumstances.
Category A security category reviews are more complex, and must be supervised by the Prison Service Head Office staff.
If you require legal support for a category review, or believe these have not been conducted properly throughout your sentence, our solicitors can help.
Can a prisoners rights lawyer protect me?
As a leading criminal law practice, we are experienced in ensuring prisoners' rights are not violated. All prisoners in the UK have the following rights:
- Protection from bullying and racial harassment
- The ability to get in contact with a solicitor
- Healthcare - including support for a mental health condition
If you think your rights - or those of a loved one - are being or have been violated while in prison, our solicitors will seek to resolve the problem as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Legal aid
If you are in need of legal services but are worried about the cost, Draycott Browne's solicitors will assist you in applying for Legal Aid. Legal aid is public funding to help you pay for the professional advice and representation you require.
If your application for legal aid is successful, you will no longer need to worry about the financial repercussions of your case. If you have any questions regarding legal aid, get in touch and we will be happy to help you.
24 hour availability
Our solicitors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days of the year so that in the event of an emergency, you will have legal assistance whenever you need it.
Frequently Asked Questions for Prison Law
Prison law is the area of criminal law that governs how individuals are treated while serving a custodial sentence. It covers the legal framework that regulates prisons, prisoners’ rights, sentence progression, parole, recalls, adjudications and applications such as Release on Temporary Licence.
Although a person has been convicted of an offence, they do not lose all of their legal protections. Decisions made by prison authorities must still be lawful, fair and proportionate. Issues such as categorisation, access to rehabilitation courses, disciplinary proceedings and release dates are all subject to legal rules and oversight.
At Draycott Browne, our Prison Law Solicitors provide strategic legal advice and representation to challenge unlawful decisions, correct sentence calculation errors and protect progression toward release. Early legal intervention is often critical in preventing unnecessary delays or injustice during a sentence.
Prisoners retain fundamental legal protections, even while serving a custodial sentence. These rights must be respected by prison authorities at all times.
Prisoners have the right to:
- Humane treatment and safe conditions
- Protection from bullying discrimination or harassment
- Access to healthcare including mental health support
- Confidential access to legal advisers
- Fair and lawful disciplinary procedures
- Accurate sentence calculation
- Regular and proper category reviews
- Lawful consideration for parole or temporary release where eligible
All decisions affecting liberty, progression or welfare must comply with prison rules and established legal standards.
If these rights are breached, we can intervene. Our experienced Prison Law Solicitors challenge unlawful decisions, represent clients at adjudications and Parole Board hearings, and take decisive action where treatment falls below acceptable standards. Legal rights do not disappear at the prison gate, and protecting them requires skilled and determined representation.
If you are released on licence and are alleged to have breached your conditions, you may be recalled to prison. Recall can happen quickly and often without prior warning. In some cases, recall is automatic following further allegations, even before those allegations are proven in court.
Once recalled, you will usually remain in custody while your case is reviewed. The Parole Board may assess whether you can be re released, depending on the nature of the alleged breach and your risk assessment. The process can be distressing, particularly if the recall is based on disputed or minor concerns.
Our experienced Prison Law Solicitors review the lawfulness of the recall decision, assess whether proper procedure has been followed, and prepare strong representations to secure re release where appropriate. Acting quickly is essential, as early legal intervention can significantly affect how long you remain in custody.
A judicial review is a legal challenge brought before the High Court when a public body, including prison authorities or the Parole Board, has acted unlawfully, unfairly or outside its powers.
It is not an appeal about whether a decision was right or wrong in general terms. Instead, judicial review examines whether the correct legal process was followed, whether the decision was rational, and whether it complied with established rules and principles of fairness.
In prison law cases, judicial review may be used to challenge unlawful categorisation decisions, refused parole hearings, improper recall procedures, unfair disciplinary outcomes or failures to follow prison policy.
Our Prison Law Solicitors act with technical precision, preparing detailed legal arguments and urgent applications where necessary to protect liberty and progression. These cases are time sensitive, and strict deadlines apply, making early expert advice essential.
The length of time it takes to receive a parole decision can vary depending on the type of case, the complexity of the risk assessment, and whether an oral hearing is required.
In standard cases, a paper review may take several months from referral to decision. However, where an oral hearing is directed, the process can take longer due to the need to gather reports, assess risk factors, and schedule witness evidence. Delays can also occur if documentation is incomplete or if further information is requested by the Parole Board.
Our experienced Prison Law Solicitors prepare detailed representations, scrutinise reports for inaccuracies, and ensure all relevant evidence is submitted in good time. Early preparation significantly strengthens your position and helps avoid avoidable setbacks in the parole process.
A prison disciplinary decision, often arising from an adjudication, can have serious and lasting consequences. Findings of guilt may result in loss of privileges, segregation, additional days added to your sentence, or significant damage to your parole prospects and security categorisation. If the process was unfair or the decision unsupported by evidence, it may be possible to challenge it.
The first step in appealing a prison disciplinary decision is to carefully review how the adjudication was conducted. This includes examining:
- Whether proper notice of the charge was given
- Whether you were given adequate time to prepare
- Whether you had the opportunity to present evidence or call witnesses
- Whether the adjudicator acted impartially
- Whether the finding was supported by reliable evidence
If procedural errors occurred or the decision was unreasonable, there may be grounds for appeal.
In some cases, appeals are handled internally within the prison system. Where additional days have been awarded, the case may be referred to the Independent Adjudicator or subject to review through formal mechanisms. If the decision is unlawful, irrational, or made in breach of natural justice, a judicial review in the High Court may be appropriate.
Strict time limits apply to challenging disciplinary findings. Delays can significantly reduce the chances of a successful outcome.
Prison Law Solicitors play a crucial role in identifying appeal grounds and acting quickly to protect your position. Our experienced Prison Law Solicitors review adjudication records in detail, obtain disclosure of relevant documents, prepare written representations, and pursue formal appeals or judicial review where necessary. We act with technical precision and determination to ensure that prison authorities are held to proper legal standards.
Because disciplinary findings can directly affect sentence progression and release prospects, early advice from specialist Prison Law Solicitors is essential. A robust challenge at the right time can prevent long term consequences that extend far beyond the original allegation.
Specialist Prison Law Solicitors
- 24/7 Availability
- Proven Success in High Profile Cases
- Non-Judgemental Representation Tailored to Your Situation
Protect your future with trusted, expert legal defence—contact Draycott Browne’s Prison Law experts today.
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Contact our Prison Law Solicitors
With Draycott Browne, one of the leading Criminal Defence Law Firms in the country, you can be sure that you have a legal team who is truly on your side. We understand the need for understanding and empathy whatever your situation and you will be treated with the utmost respect.
We pride ourselves on the commitment and dedication that we show to our clients so that you can be certain that the highest level of work is being done on your behalf. We are highly skilled and professional, but are also friendly and approachable, and will strive to put you at your ease with our clear and straightforward approach.
You deserve a criminal defence of the highest quality on your side and you can be certain that you have it with Draycott Browne.
We regularly provide specialist prison law representation to clients in Manchester, Liverpool and London and throughout the UK and Wales. Draycott Browne has a wealth of experience in providing legal support to prisoners who want to protect their rights, so you can rest assured you will have experienced Prison Law Solicitors on your side if you choose to get in touch.