Accessing Legal Aid

Legal aid can help cover the costs of:

- Legal advice

- Representation in a court or tribunal

- Family mediation

Type of issue:

This Law Society page specifies which types of issues can qualify for legal aid

Check here

For instance, all criminal cases qualify for legal aid, except for certain minor offences such as speeding.

Factors that determine whether legal aid is granted:

1) If the case is serious enough

2) If you are of low enough income

Here's a link to check eligibility for legal aid on GOV.UK website

Check if you can get legal aid

Legal aid: rights to access family while being in prison

Partner cannot legally stop their imprisoned partner from having access to your children unless this access is going to have an effect on the child's welfare.

You are unlikely to lose these rights despite a conviction.

In fact, prisoners should be encouraged to keep good relations with family, so contact time is often accepted.

There are many methods for prisoners to maintain contact with their families:

Prison Visits

Writing a letter

Video calls /
voice messages

Email

To visit you in prison, the visitor must:

- Be on the prisoner's visiting list

- Book their visit at least 24 hours in advance

- Bring their ID

There is a limit of 3 visitors per prisoners at a given time.

For more info:

Click here

The letter is checked by prison staff before being delivered.

Video calls:

- Using a mobile phone or tablet.

- You are allowed 1 video call per month

- Time limit of video calls are 30 minutes

Also you should bear in mind that all calls are recorded and prison staff may be able to listen

Voice messages are sent via the Prison Voicemail Service.

Your friends/family can contact you by email.

These are sent on an app, 'Email A Prisoner'.

Prison officers will then print this out and check it, before delivering it to you.

Procedure and rules

The procedure for the prisoner to gain access to communicating with their families, is very simple:

1) Application Form - note that a separate application form is required for each child you wish to see

2) Wait and hope for the best! - It is up to the prison governor's discretion whether the prisoner can get in touch with the family member

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There are also additional rules for children:

If your child wants to see you, he/she must undertake a risk assessment. Then relevant authorities (Children's Social Care Services and NSPCC) will give info. And the prison governor make the final decision on whether it is allowed.