Working With Offenders
Virtual Prisons Tour
Members of the public are now able to take virtual tours of prisons at the click of a button. 'Prisons Online' takes the viewer on a journey from arrival in prison, through daily life and right up to release. Lack of contact with family members is established as a factor leading to repeat offending - as is the homelessness associated with being cut off from family ties on leaving prison.
The site hopes to make the process more understandable and less traumatic to ensure that the families and friends of prisoners know
how to keep in touch with their loved ones
how to arrange visits
what happens when they arrive at prison on visits.
The website uses pictures, sound and text to guide viewers through the physical environment of the prison while trying to answer the most likely questions of those facing a prison sentence or their family.
Although the tour will be of interest to the general public and can be used as an educational tool, the section 'keeping in touch' has been specifically designed with the friends and family of prisoners in mind.
Prisons Online has been developed by Criminal Justice Information Technology (CJIT) in collaboration with the Prison Service, the Prison Reform Trust and Action for Prisoners Families. The virtual tour is part of the Government's drive to use new technology to help modernise the criminal justice system, and make it more open and accessible to the people it serves.
Visit 'Prisons Online' at the CJS-Online website.
Last update: 16/09/03