Prison Rules

The Prison Rules 1999 is an important piece of legislation which governs how prisons are run.

This includes regulations on areas such as physical welfare, communications and offences against discipline.

Prison Rules apply to every prison but the governor may have local rules as well.

Prison rules also allow the creation of prison policies such as Policy Frameworks and Prison Service Instructions (PSIs) as described below.

Prison Policies

Most prison operational policies are published as one of the following types of document which can be found online on Gov.uk. Some policies are not published online because they are restricted or sensitive.

Though the formatting differs between the document type, they all include mandatory actions which prisons must follow as well as general guidance on a particular subject. We list these types below in order of most recent.

Prison and Probation Policy Frameworks

Since 2018 prison and probation operational policies have been published as policy frameworks. As older polices such as PSIs and PSOs (below) are reviewed and updated, they will be reissued as policy frameworks.

Policy frameworks each include a ‘Requirements’ section which details mandatory actions that prisons should follow. They also include a ‘Guidance’ section which includes other information for staff about good practice.

For example, some useful policy frameworks include:

• Incentives Policy Framework
• Security Categorisation Policy Framework
• Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) Policy Framework
• Generic Parole Process Policy Framework
• Prisoner Complaints Policy Framework

Prison Service Instructions (PSIs)

PSIs contain a number of rules, regulations and guidelines by which prisons are run. PSIs have an expiry date, although in practice expired policies will continue to be in force until formally cancelled or replaced.

For example, some useful PSIs are:

• 47/2011 prisoner discipline procedures
• 49/2011 prisoner communication services

Prison Service Orders (PSOs)

PSOs are long term mandatory instructions which were issued until 31 July 2009. They have no expiry date, and remain in force until cancelled or replaced.

Useful PSOs include:

• 1700 segregation
• 3601 mandatory drug testing
• 4460 prisoners pay
• 4450 marriage of prisoners
• 4455 requests from prisoners to change their name