E Mail for Prisoners' Families

· Do you wish you could keep in touch with your loved one in prison more often?

· Do you find it difficult to write, and to make your writing legible?

· Are you more comfortable with emailing, than writing letters?

If so,you might be interested in this

The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) is testing a new system in three prisons, HMP Aylesury, HMP Downwiew and HMP High Down, which will enable prisoners' families and friends to write to prisoners using the internet. This is to be called "PRIS-M which stands for Prisoners' Mail. Nearly 100 prisoners and their families and friends have volunteered so far to try out PRIS-M, and more volunteers would be welcomed who wish to email prisoners at these establishments.
· How can I send e-mails if prisoners are not allowed to use computers for personal mail?

The e-mails will be downloaded from a secure site on the internet and then sent directly to a printer which automatically seals each one to ensure privacy before delivery to the wings.* This system has been used successfully for some time in the Armed Forces to enable British soldiers in different parts of the world to keep in touch with their families at home.

· Why is the Prison Service considering a new way for prisoners and their families to correspond?

The Prison Service actively encourages families and friends of prisoners to keep in touch. It is hoped that contact using this system will be easier and faster than the normal postal service. It will not replace normal postal deliveries, but will simply provide an alternative or additional means for prisoners and their families to communicate.

· Will prisoners be able to send e-mails back to their families?

No, but prisoners' will be able to send hand-written letters via the internet for delivery to your home, either by e-mail or by normal post. These are called 'scanmails'. A handwritten letter is scanned onto a computer at the prison, uploaded to the Pirs-m servier, transmitted via the internet, and then sent by e-mail, or alternatively, automatically printed and sealed at local sites for delivery through the local postal service. Scanmails by e-mail will appear on the receiving computer in the handwriting of the person who sent it in the same way that scanmails are received by normal post. (Posted letters sent through Priso-m will only be available in the UK). Scanmails can be e-mailed to any address abroad.

· How much will it cost?

The cost of an e-mail letter to a prisoner will be less than the total cost of a posted letter. An e-mail letter sent to a prisoner will cost 20p, and the cost of an outward scanned letter from a prisoner will also cost 20p including the paper and envelope. The prisoner can select a 'return letter' facility on his scanmail form which means the e-mail reply to his letter will be automatically paid for. Correspondents or prisoners will be credited with five free e-mails when they register on the Pris-m web site. They will be able to pay by credit card or by a special top-up card currently being produced.

· What next?

PRIS-M is being tested for a 6-month period from 12th June 2006 in three prisons representing a cross-section of the prison population, to see what benefits it delivers to prisoners and families. Prisoners and their families. Prisoners and their families are invited to participate on a voluntary basis. Their views as users of this service will be important in deciding whether to adopt it permanently and more widely across the Prison Service. If you, or someone known to you wishes to send a Pris-m email to a prisoner in one of these prisons (Aylesbury, Downview or High Down), you can register as a user on the Pris-m web site www.pris-m.com. We hope that a linke from the Prison Service Website will be available soon.

** These cannot be opened or read by mail room staff. But the e-mail letters of some prisoners (in and out) will be monitored only if their normal post is already being monitored or is likely to be monitored. The rules for monitoring will not change.