Prison life - can anyone help with a bit of info, please?

[Barmaid]

I wonder if there is anyone around who has served some time (or knows someone that has). I was looking for some info on the financial affairs of prisoners to help with something. I wondered if prisoners are allowed their own money in prison, and if so is there a limit (I understand they can buy toiletries etc). Also I know they can earn money in prison, but how much. If a pensioner goes to prison, does his SRP continue to be paid? On release is there any provision for (say Probation) to assist with finding new rented accommodation (since I assume that after 6 years, the landlord is going to want his property back!)?

TIA!

[sara3]

morning Barmaid, nice to see you. I would have thought this would be more your area!

my friend's husband has gone on "hols". he's in an open prison and has a job which earns him �12 a week. they can buy toiletries (you can't take any in) and they're full price. he has an account, and she can take/send postal orders to top it up. he's not allowed to hold any cash. I think the money is for sweets, cigarettes and phone calls. he has to enter a pin number to use the phone and it's deducted from his account. apparently the food is crap. packed lunch and breakfast delivered to your "room" (we don't say cell any more!) and one cooked meal at 5pm.

Probation would probably have the answers to the rest of your questions.

[Barmaid]

Thanks to both of you - very useful and as I thought!

(Sara, its not my area at all, a long long time since I did any crime and even then the limit of my involvement was to represent in court - although I have visited a few prisons in my time (not nice!))

[THECORBYLOON]

State Pension is not payable whilst in prison. If the person is on remand and no penalty is imposed, the Pension for the period in prison is re-instated.

[Ethel]

You will find the download on this site extremely informative, Barmaid, especially s.3.0

http://www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk/subsection .asp?id=603

[Katoninelive]

The person i visit gets �12 per week wages. He can have money sent in to his account where he is allowed �25 per week max to spend. This is for phone credit, toiletries,stamps and clothes(not allowed to send anything in) The food is very bland & basic so he tends to buy biscuits etc. All meals are eaten in their cells where they sleep & use the loo. When a person is released, if they have no one on the 'outside' to go to then they will be found accommodation.