durham prison phone number visits

Durham Prison

Tel: 0191 332 3400 – Old Elvet, Durham, County Durham DH1 3HU

HMP Durham is a category B local prison , and currently holds both young offenders and adult males. It takes in both remanded and convicted inmates from the Durham, Tyneside and Cumbria courts. The prison was originally built in the early 19 th century, and over the years, has been both a male and a female prison. It has a capacity of 981. If you’re planning on visiting HMP Durham and want directions, please view the map on this page.

Tel: 0191 332 3400

Operational capacity: 1017 as of 8th March 2011.

Old Elvet, Durham, County Durham DH1 3HU

Prison Phone have been reducing the cist of calls from HMP Durham since 2013. Our service has helped thousands of inmates across the UK to stay in touch with friends and family without paying the extreamly high rates charged by the prison!

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Here’s some facts about Durham Prison

HMP Durham is a category B prison that holds young and adult male offenders. Located in Old Elvet, near Durham, County Durham, HMP Durham has a capacity to hold 1001. The prison opened in the early 19th century.

According to the latest inspection report , the prison has 9 wings. A wing is for remand, convicted and sentenced prisoners, short and long term. B wing landings 2,3,4 hold full-time workers. Landing 1 holds vulnerable prisoners attached to C wing. C wing is the vulnerable prisoner wing. D wing and E wing are integrated drug treatment unit. F wing is the first night centre and induction unit. I wing is the drug recovery unit, G wing is the separation and care unit, and M wing holds health care inpatients.

Mary Ann Cotton , a serial killer, spent time here after killing people with arsenic.

Visiting hours are 13:45 – 15:45 Mon-Sun, 17:15 – 19:00 Wed, and 9:30 – 11:30 Sat-Sun .

HMP Durham’s most famous ex-inmates include Rosemary West, Myra Hindley, Mary Ann Cotton and Ronnie Kray.

Prison Phone offers phone tariffs that reduce the costs of calls from this prison by up to 75%! This enables prisoners to get the support and love that they are missing from home, while reducing costs for the inmate. Find out more below.

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• Inside Time Reports
• 13th December 2014
• Category B , Category B local with restricted status , Prison Visit

Prison information

Address: Old Elvet Durham DH1 3HU Switchboard: 0191 332 3400 Managed by: HMPPS Region:  North East Category:  B/Reception prison Link to: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/durham-prison

Description

Reception prison serving the courts in the region, majority population remand prisoners

Visit Booking: Online

Use this online service to book a social visit to a prisoner in England or Wales you need the:

• prisoner number
• prisoner’s date of birth
• dates of birth for all visitors coming with you

The prisoner must add you to their visitor list before you can book a visit.

You’ll get an email confirming your visit. It takes 1 to 3 days.

ID: Every visit Children’s Visits: Father and Child sessions & homework club with Dad

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If you have any information that you would like to be included or see anything that needs updating, contact Gary Bultitude at  [email protected]

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One thought on “ hmp durham ”.

I’m trying to get in touch with my brother who is on remand at Durham jail, can I email him??? Send him a letter??? Ect…. could someone please tell me how I can let him know im thinking of him? Kind regards Louise mccue

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Durham Prison Information

• Accommodation: The prison consists of multiple residential units with individual cells or shared accommodation for inmates. The cells are equipped with basic amenities, including beds, personal storage, and sanitation facilities.
• Education and Vocational Training: Durham Prison offers educational programs to help inmates improve their literacy, numeracy, and other skills. Vocational training opportunities are provided to enhance employment prospects upon release.
• Workshops and Employment: Inmates have access to workshops where they can engage in various activities such as woodworking, metalwork, and other vocational programs. These activities aim to develop skills and potential employment options within the prison.
• Healthcare: Durham Prison has an on-site healthcare unit staffed with medical professionals who offer primary healthcare services to prisoners. Mental health support and substance abuse programs are also available.
• Sports and Physical Activities: The prison promotes physical fitness and well-being by providing access to sports facilities and organized activities. These activities aim to develop teamwork, discipline, and positive lifestyle choices.
• Family Contact: The prison recognizes the importance of maintaining family relationships and offers opportunities for visits and contact with family members, subject to specific guidelines and regulations.
• Chaplaincy Services: Durham Prison has chaplains representing different faiths who offer religious support and guidance to prisoners.

Contact Information

Booking a visit to durham prison.

Unlimited Prison Phone Calls Package

• Mon: 13:45 – 15:45
• Tue: 13:45 – 15:45 & 17:00 – 19:00
• Wed: 13:45 – 15:45 & 17:00 – 19:00
• Thu: 13:45 – 15:45 Fri: 13:45 – 15:45
• Sat: 09:30 – 11:30 & 13:45 – 16:45
• Sun: 09:30 – 11:30 & 13:45 – 16:45

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• Crime, justice and the law
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Visit someone in prison

Use this service to request a social visit to a prisoner in England or Wales. There’s a different way to book a prison visit in Northern Ireland or a prison visit in Scotland .

To use this service you need the:

• prisoner number
• prisoner’s date of birth
• dates of birth for all visitors coming with you

If you do not have the prisoner’s location or prisoner number, use the ‘Find a prisoner’ service .

You can choose up to 3 dates and times you prefer. The prison will email you to confirm when you can visit.

The prisoner must add you to their visitor list before you can request a visit. This can take up to 2 weeks.

Request a prison visit

Visits you cannot book through this service.

Contact the prison directly if you need to arrange any of the following:

• legal visits, for example legal professionals discussing the prisoner’s case
• reception visits, for example the first visit to the prisoner within 72 hours of being admitted
• double visits, for example visiting for 2 hours instead of 1
• family day visits - special family events that the prison organises

Help with the costs of prison visits

You may be able to get help with the cost of prison visits if you’re getting certain benefits or have a health certificate.

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• Prison visitors

Visitor Centres

Nepacs has run services for prisoners’ families and friends for many years.  We work in partnership with our local prisons to ensure that we provide child-friendly, welcoming visitors’ centres or visits halls in all north east prisons, staffed by Nepacs support workers and volunteers who can provide information and support to people visiting their loved ones.

We also provide specialist family support services within north east prisons funded by HMPPS and grant funders. We will continue to campaign for government funding to ensure that adequate family support services are available in all prisons.

Find out more about the range of services we provide in each prison here .

To find out more about visiting a north east prison and keeping in touch with prisoners, click here or click on the links below for the relevant prison.

Please be aware that if you have a concern for a friend or family member in prison, please contact the prison directly and not us here at Nepacs. 

You can also find information on the Ministry of Justice website and Inside Time website.

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Recent News

Local charity seeks volunteers in Teesside and County Durham to support families of prisoners Tue 23 Apr 24

Awards for North East work in rehabilitation Wed 20 Mar 24

Volunteer open event for Independent Visitors in Northumberland Mon 11 Mar 24

General Information, HMP Durham

The prison opened almost 200 years ago but was rebuilt as recently as 1881 (!) It holds adult males over 21 and young adults, who are sentenced, convicted and remand prisoners from Tyneside, Durham and Cumbria courts.  

Accommodation

• A, B, C and D wings – general population
• E wing – first night and induction unit
• F wing – vulnerable prisoner unit
• I wing – integrated support unit (17 beds) for those with significant mental health problems
• G wing – segregation unit and a hospital unit of six beds.

Return to Durham

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Durham Visitors Group

Durham Visitors Group was established in 2021 to visit people held Derwentside IRC, the new detention centre for women in County Durham which opened amidst strong resistance.

Visitors come from County Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle and beyond, offering emotional and practical support to women held in the centre. Durham Visitors Group is co-ordinated by a group of volunteers and works closely with other groups and organisations in the North East of England.

For more information about volunteering with Durham Visitors Group or, if you are in detention, about receiving the support of a visitor, please contact the organisation directly.

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Family Prison Visits Volunteer

General overview of role: Family prison visits volunteers will be based in the Visitor Centre. The visitors’ centres exist to meet the needs of adults and children visiting relatives or friends in prison. They aim to offer, "a safe, pleasant environment where all visitors are met with dignity and respect, provided with the facilities they need and offered information, support and the opportunity to discuss the difficulties they may face in confidence” (Prison Service Guidelines, 1996). This statement sums up the basic principles underlying the Nepacs visitors’ centres. Volunteers in this role will offer a warm welcome to all visitors arriving for a domestic visit and register all visitors who arrive. They will also provide refreshments and offer emotional support and information to the families who are waiting for a visit.

Role description: Main tasks will include: • Welcome visitors and register and log each visitor as they arrive • Serve refreshments • To offer any information and support as necessary to the families of prisoners • To explain to new visitors the visiting process • To promote the Nepacs family support service available to prisoners and visiting families and friends • To take family support referrals and forward them to the Nepacs family support worker • Respond to lower level family support enquiries • To promote the Assisted Prison Visits Scheme to families • To raise any issues or concerns regarding the safety of children or vulnerable adults and follow the Nepacs safeguarding policy and processes

Skills required: • Welcoming and friendly outlook • Non judgemental attitude • Ability to work as part of a team • An understanding of confidentiality • Sensitive to the needs of visitors • Basic numeracy and literacy

HMP Durham Visitors' Centre, Durham, DH1 3HU

Expenses: Public transport costs or mileage up to 22 mile radius at 40p per mile. Training and support: • Initial project induction and training • Level 1 Safeguarding training available • Invite to Nepacs Generic induction • Volunteer meetings are held at regular intervals throughout the year • NEPACS offer a training day for all volunteers annually • Volunteers are eligible to attend some prison organised training Commitment Nepacs asks volunteers • To commit to the project and its purpose and give notice of absence as soon as possible • To undertake an induction programme • To agree to a DBS check and prison clearance (this will require a form of photo ID)

Volunteers can expect: • Support from staff • Training opportunities • Invitation to volunteer meetings • Recognition of their work

What does NEPACS do? NEPACS is all about supporting a positive future for prisoners and their families. We strongly believe that investment must be made in resettlement and rehabilitation to ensure that there are fewer crime victims in the future, and less prospect of family life being disrupted and possibly destroyed by a prison sentence. As a charity with a strong regional base including over 200 volunteers from all walks of life, we are determined to play our part in promoting family ties and facilitate resettlement. Ministry of Justice figures tell us that prisoners are 39% less likely to reoffend if they have had visits throughout their prison sentence. That's a strong argument for keeping families together. We are also concerned about the damaging impact of a prison sentence on the families themselves and seek to limit this through informal support and signposting for help with finance, childcare and health issues. After all, the families haven't committed the crime, but they, especially the children, are greatly affected by the punishment.