The receiving and discharging procedures for individuals
Prisonerand
escortstheir
are carriedproperty
out by private companies such as
SERCO, as soon as a judge decides a person is to be sent to
prison they will immediately be transported to where they will
service their sentence. When the prisoner arrives they will be
taken to the reception area, there they will need to; confirm
the prisoners identity the legality, record personal information
such as the offenders name, address, their religion and their
next of kin’s telephone number, they need to have their
fingerprints and photos taken, and record if they’re from the
armed forces. They also need to uncover if the prisoner is likely
to attempt suicide or have poor mental health, naïve prisoners
are not allowed to share cells in case they self-harm.
Furthermore prisoners homes need to be searched (for illicit Before being discharged prisoners must undergo
items), rub-down searched and a full search (conducted by two procedures such as; full document checks, prisoner
officers). search, prisoner identity check, return of property, issue
Officers need to recognise if the prisoner could be harmful to of prescribed medicine, issue of discharge grant ( equal
themselves, other inmates, staff and/ or the public. Before the to one weeks benefits) and travel documents, issue of
prisoners first night in custody officers need to perform; clothing and the signing of their discharge papers.
suicide/ self-harm screening, medical risk assessment, and cell- Release is generally at 8:45am. If the prisoner is due to
sharing assessments. These assessments can be performed by be released on a weekend or a bank holiday they will be
both receptionists or prison officers, however health released on the last working day of the week. Prisoners
assessments need to be conducted by healthcare professionals. release is determined by the length of their sentence,
their behaviour and any time that was spent on remand.
Prisoners can be admitted to special induction units for their
first night or they may have an induction in the wing of the If an inmate is serving a fixed term sentence then they
prison the inmate’s cell. The induction covers subjects such as can be released half way through their sentence, if their
their prisoner rights and prison regime i.e. meal times. They will sentence is longer than a year then they will be released
also receive an introduction pack which will be explained by on probation. In this case a parole board is not used. A
their personal officer or another prisoner who is trained to help prisoner can apply for parole if prisoners are serving
new prisoners. The introduction pack is printed in multiple extended sentences or fixed- term sentences which are
languages so that it caters for those who speak an language longer than four years or are for crimes that were violent
different to English. Videos can also be shown for those who or sexual and were committed before the 4th April 2005.
struggle with reading and have language difficulties. If an inmate has a non-fixed sentence or a life sentence
the Government can apply for parole for the prisoner.
Full report’s on the prisoners property needs to be made,
receptionist staff need to search bags brought with prisoner to If a prisoner was sentenced before February 2016 and
check the items against the Prisoner Escort Record hasn’t been released on parole then they will be
Discrepancies need to be handled by the receptionists and the released on license after two thirds of their sentence. If
prisoners property needs to be searched, resealed and stored sentenced after February 2016 then they will be released
with the prisoners own seal. All items need to be reported (this on license when they have six months left of their
includes cash), on property report cards. Items that are classed sentence. When receiving a fine in prison, inmates can
as valuable need to be put on a separate card. It is the ask the court to link the fine with the sentence they’re
reception staffs duty to tell the offender where their serving, to do this prisoners will need to get a form from
possessions will be stored, after staff needs to sign the record prison staff.
of prisoners items. Offenders are permitted to have items When leaving prison risk assessments must be
which are approved by the prison, they are allowed a certain completed, these must include a photo of the prisoner
number of items due to the size of cells. Inmates are NOT and confirm it is the correct prisoner being discharged.
permitted to take perishable items such as food, if a prisoner The form needs to be signed by the escorting officer and
does try to bring them then they will be destroyed. Whilst the discharging officer, the prison must keep a copy of
serving their sentence inmates are given access to their this document. Any prisoners being detained must be
property and may exchange items. Once they’re discharged handed over to the UKBA and their files handed over
from the sentence their property will be given back to them, if with them.
they’re transferred so will their property.
