Preparation for release

Many people find the transition from prison life to life on the outside difficult. This is especially true of the people we work with, who are often deported after serving their sentence, and so are denied many of the programmes available to people who will be released into the country in which they are held. For this reason Prisoners Abroad has a Preparation for Release programme. Starting about one year prior to release, we encourage prisoners to think about the practical and emotional steps they can take which will make the transition easier.

The forms and leaflets below should be given to prisoners who are in the last year of their detention.

Our Authorisation Form is the single most important form for Prisoners Abroad. Signing and returning it to us is the only way for prisoners to register with us. Without registering with us, prisoners are not eligible to receive any of our services. The form allows us to discuss details of the case with the Foreign Office, and to store their details on our database.

We also have a Needs Assessment form. When a prisoner is due to be deported to the UK in the near future, it helps us to have some idea of what the individual client's needs will be on their return. The more information we have about their circumstances, the more help / support that our resettlement team will be able to provide them with. The form has covering notes that explain to the prisoner how to fill in the form.

Please do not hand the Resettlement Needs Assessment form over to any prisoner unless they are due to be released in the next 12 months, as it serves no purpose for prisoners to tell us about what their resettlement needs will be unless their deportation is imminent. We find that the resettlement needs of prisoners often change during the latter stages of their sentences, and wish to avoid the situation where one prisoner has several forms on their file, as this can lead to confusion.

Lastly, the Contact with Family & Friends form is for prisoners to provide us with contact details of any family member / friend that they wish us to get in contact with. We will only discuss prisoners' cases with their family / friends if their contact details have been provided to us in this way.

Authorisation form (file size: 47KB)

Resettlement Needs Assessment (file size 129KB)

There is also a set of explanatory notes for this form, which should be given to the prisoner at the same time.

Accompanying notes for the Resettlement Needs Assessment Form
File size: 61 KB

Contact with Family & Friends form (file size 43KB)

Other useful leaflets

Some of the following leaflets may be useful to prisoners prior to their deportation, so that they know what they can expect from PA in terms of a resettlement service. Please print out relevant factsheets, and hand them over to prisoners at the same time that you hand them the Resettlement Needs Assessment form.

General leaflet for those returning from prison abroad
File size: 76 KB

Finding Employment
This factsheet gives advice to ex-prisoners on finding employment in the UK.
File Size: 69 KB

Disclosing Offences
This factsheet explains the law around disclosing offences committed overseas.
File Size: 88 KB

Returning to the UK and the Sexual Offences Act 2003
Leaflet explaining the effect of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 on prisoners returning to the UK.
File size: 76 KB

Benefits information for returning ex-prisoners
This factsheet explains the welfare benefits entitlements for returning ex-prisoners.
File Size: 77 KB

Finding Accommodation
This factsheet gives some suggestions on finding accommodation on return to the UK.
File Size: 69 KB

Medical Information
This factsheet explains how to get medical assistance in the UK.
File Size: 72 KB

Guidance for Immigration and Parole Officers
This factsheet offers advice for immigration and parole officers on how they can work with Prisoners Abroad to support a detainee awaiting deportation.
File size: 83KB