book visit brinsford

HMYOI Brinsford, Visits and getting there

Visits are held  on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 13:30 and 16:00 and last for 2 hours. If the Monday falls as a Bank Holiday the visit is held the following Wednesday.

The social visits booking line, 0300 060 6500, is open Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 18:00 hours. Telephone bookings can be made up until 18:00, two days prior to a visit. For example, the last booking for a Thursday visit will be 18:00 on Tuesday. Visits can be booked up to 28 days in advance. A request for a visit will be confirmed, the visit is not confirmed until notification has been received. The booking service is closed on Bank Holidays.

Social bookings can also be made by email: [email protected] . If booking by e-mail be sure to include full details of who you will be visiting and at which prison they are held, the date of your intended visits  attending and who will be making the visits.

To book online, visit: www.gov.uk/prison-visits

All you need is  the name and date of birth of the person you are visiting and  their prisoner number. You can choose up to 3 possible dates and times. Prison booking staff will check what’s available and confirm your visit by email. You’ll also receive your visiting order (VO) number by email. You must bring this with you when you visit.

If you’ve made an online visit booking request and haven’t received a confirmation email within 1-3 working days, email [email protected]

Note that only 2 adult visitors are allowed to visit. An additional visitor is permitted if he/she is a parent to the young person/young adult. Children over the age of 10 will be classed as adults for seating purposes.

All children 16 or under must be accompanied by their own parents. Visitors aged 16 must be accompanied by their own parent. Visitors aged 17 must be accompanied by either their own parent or the parent of the young person/young adult they are visiting. Any exceptional circumstances will require a Governor’s letter.

Getting there

If you want to plan your journey on public transport visit the the traveline web site (click here) . It is an excellent way to plan your visits.

The nearest rail station is Wolverhampton. A bus service runs between Wolverhampton and Cannock (874), 13:15 hours. The bus station is situated immediately outside the railway station. Any visitors arriving by bus will need to book the second visits session. The bus service is run by Arriva Midlands North on 01543 466 123. There is no public bus service on a Sunday.

A Community Transport service will operate on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday picking up from Birmingham New Street railway station and Wolverhampton railway station and then onto the establishment. Bookings for the service must be made in advance on 0800 316 9048 and service users must register using the above free phone number before travel. Return fares are applicable and can be paid to the driver on the day of travel. For further details regarding the service please call 0800 316 9048.

By car from Wolverhampton take the A460 sign posted for Cannock to M54 island junction 1. Straight across at island following A460 Cannock sign to the first set of traffic lights. Turn let at traffic lights, this is New Road and is sign posted HMP & YOI Brinsford, HMP Featherstone. Straight down New Road, approximately 1.1 miles then take the 6th turning left – HMP & YOI Brinsford is approximately 200 yards on the right.

From Stafford: Take the A449, sign posted to Wolverhampton. Straight on A449 to A5 island (Gailey Caravans is on the right). Across the island, still following A449 after approximately 1½ miles you will come to the Four Ashes Public House. Past the Four Ashes for approximately ¾ mile then turn left, sign posted for Brinsford and Featherstone. Follow this road for approximately 1½ miles and you will come to New Road. Turn left. Follow New Road over the bridge and take the second turn on the right. Brinsford is approximately 200 yards on the right.

South via M6: Travelling south on the M6, Brinsford lies approximately 2½ miles from junction 11, M6. Off junction 11, right round island, take 4th exit – follow sign A460 Wolverhampton. Straight on A460 until you reach first set of traffic lights, approximately 1.1 miles. Turn right at traffic lights. This is New Road, Featherstone, sign posted HMP & YOI Brinsford, HMP Featherstone. Straight down New Road, approximately 1.1 miles take the 6th turning left off New Road, HMYOI Brinsford is approximately 200 yards on the right.

North via M6: Travelling north on the M6 Brinsford is situated approximately 3 miles from junction 10A. Off junction 10A M54 to junction 1. Off junction 1 right round island, take 3rd exit, follow sign for A460 Cannock. Straight on A460 until you reach first set of traffic lights, approximately ¾ mile. Turn left at traffic lights. This is New Road and is sign posted for HMP & YOI Brinsford and HMP Featherstone. Straight down New Road approximately 1.1 miles, take the 6th turning left off New Road. HMP & YOI Brinsford is approximately 200 yards on right.

A dedicated parking area for visitors is provided next to the Visitors Centre.

Return to Brinsford

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The Good Book of Prisons

What's good in prisons across England & Wales

The prisoners praised relations with staff, and visible governors who ‘listened’ and ‘explained’. The regime for well-behaved prisoners was ‘excellent’ as were healthcare and the gym, its staff, and visits from outside sports teams. They valued education and vocational training (including CSCS training) and appreciated the ‘clean grounds’ and ‘flowers’.

Officers said the prison was safe and praised the VR and Safety Teams who debrief prisoners after incidents and oversee VR plans. They rated relations among staff and with prisoners highly, and said the No. 1 was ‘excellent’: visible, ‘knows all the staff’, and ‘has time for us’. They valued regular staff training days, the Care Team, and mentoring support for new staff. They also admired education & training and noted the positive impact of the Keyworker scheme.

The SMT described management, from the No. 1 down, as ‘very visible’ and praised the prison’s communications, led by a dedicated comms manager, including twice daily team briefings and regular staff consultation forums. They too thought staff-prisoner relations were very good and noted the benefits brought by Keyworking. They found the prison ‘safe’ – highlighting the VR and Safety teams – and said family involvement with self-harmers & violent prisoners ‘really helped’, as did a wing for troublesome prisoners. They, too, rated education & training, adding praise for the Prisoner Council, and for Environmental Services who kept the place ‘clean, green and bright’.

The Governor noted many of the positives identified by others and highlighted in particular: the quality and skills of staff; the prison’s commitment to decency; the VR and Safety Teams; the Residents’ Council; and Environmental Services.

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Brinsford Prison Information

Contact information, booking a visit to brinsford prison.

Unlimited Prison Phone Calls Package

Brinsford Prison

Tel: 01902 533 450  –  New Road, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire WV10 7PU

HMP Brinsford currently holds young adult male offenders between the ages of 18 and 21, and is located in Featherstone, just outside Wolverhampton. It opened in 1991, and in 2002, two extra blocks were built, to provide additional education facilities. In 2008, a residential unit was opened, which meant the prison could offer a wider range of vocational training. The prison has the capacity to accommodate 577 inmates. If you’re looking for directions to HMP Brinsford, please refer to the map on this page.

Tel: 01902 533 450

Operational capacity: 577 as of 13th August 2008

New Road, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire WV10 7PU

Prison Phone is helping the inmates of HMP Brinsford to make longer and more affordable calls to loved ones on the outside.

Our range of low cost calling tariffs reduce the cost of a call from the payphones in HMP Brinsford from 40p per minute to just 10p per minute!

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Here’s some facts about Brinsford Prison

HMP Brinsford is a young males prison for adults between 18 and 21. It is located in Featherstone , near Wolverhampton, and was opened in 1991. Brinsford has the capacity to hold 577 inmates.

The prison has 5 residential units . Residential 1 has the first night center and induction unit, so the received prisoners would spend their first time here. Residentials 2, 3, and 4 hold young adults in single cells. Residential 4 also has the drugs recovery unit. Residential 5 is the enhanced unit with in cell showers.

Ryan Youll was arrested and sent here after attacking a teacher for 15 seconds, repeatedly punching him in the face at HMYOI Wellington during a plumbing lesson.

Ondrej Suha was found hanging in his cell hours after he was told he could be deported from the UK.

To view the latest inspection report, click here

Visiting hours within the prison are 13:30-16:00 on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

A recent inspection of HMP Brinsford yielded a damning verdict on the prison, stating that levels of violence and drug smuggling were too high.

After 15 months , the prison had a “dramatic turnaround” after the prison was described as “squalid” in April 2014.

4 inmates escaped in 2003, by assaulting an officer, then stealing his keys. They then smashed a window and climbed over the perimeter wall.

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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A guide to hmp brinsford.

The thought of a prison sentence can be daunting. This post will provide invaluable insights into HMP Brinsford, including its location, transportation options, and what happens when a prisoner first arrives. Whether you’re facing your own incarceration or planning to visit someone, this information will help you navigate this challenging time with greater confidence.

What type of prison is HMP Brinsford?

HMP Brinsford is a Category C men’s public prison and Young Offenders Institution situated in Featherstone, Wolverhampton, England. Managed by His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service, it accommodates 577 male inmates, primarily convicted by nearby courts. Inmates have access to healthcare, education, sports, and religious services within the prison.

How to get to HMP Brinsford

HMP Brinsford is located at New Rd, Featherstone, Wolverhampton, WV10 7PY. You can drive to the prison or use public transport (a short walk may be required, depending on the route). Several bus and coach routes pass near the prison and West Midlands rail services are also proximate.

What happens when you first go to prison as a prisoner?

If you’re facing the possibility of going to prison for the first time, it’s natural to feel nervous and uncertain about what to expect. However, having an idea of what will happen during the initial stages can help ease some of your worries.

The first phase is known as “reception” where you’ll be formally introduced into the prison system. The main purpose is to gather information about you, including your needs and any potential risks you may pose to others. This information will be used to determine your accommodation and other necessary services.

The reception process usually involves a health screening to identify any immediate medical issues. You’ll also be thoroughly searched to ensure that you’re not carrying any prohibited items, and your personal belongings will be checked and recorded. You’ll be given information about the prison’s rules and regulations, daily routines, and available services and programs.

Once the reception process is complete, you’ll be assigned to a specific wing or unit within the prison. You’ll receive basic hygiene items, bedding, and a cell. If you have a cellmate, you’ll be introduced to them at this point.

What happens when you visit someone in prison?

Visiting a prisoner in England is subject to a series of measures that are in place to guarantee the safety and security of everyone involved.

To visit a prisoner, you need to schedule your visit in advance and provide photographic identification upon arrival. Upon arrival, you’ll undergo a security check that may involve a check of your body, clothes, and bags. Even children may be searched for security purposes.

After passing the security check, you’ll wait until your visit is scheduled. You’ll then be escorted to a visiting room to see the prisoner, which may have a screen or glass partition, or it could be an open room with several tables. Physical contact may be allowed, depending on the prison’s policies.

Once your visit is over, you’ll need to check out and may be subject to another security check to ensure that you’re not taking anything out of the prison on behalf of the prisoner. The prison staff may conduct this check using X-ray machines or metal detectors.

If you need information about what is permitted during your visit to HMP Brinsford, it’s recommended that you contact the prison in advance to inquire about their visitation policies and procedures.

Where to get more help

Are you or a loved one being sent to HMP Brinsford or already serving time there? Do you have concerns about legal rights and potential appeals? Stuart Miller Solicitors has the knowledge and experience to help. Contact us today for a no-obligation consultation and let us assist you.

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We understand this is a difficult and stressful time for you and your family. Our team will support you every step of the way.

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In Pensacola, DeSantis touts bill limiting activists' ability to challenge school books

Gov. Ron DeSantis appeared in Pensacola on Monday to tout an education bill aimed at expediting the process of turning around failing schools and limiting the ability of adults to dominate the book challenge process of a school district their children do not attend.

In a news conference at Warrington Preparatory Academy on Monday morning, DeSantis discussed parts of HB 1285, a jam-packed new Florida bill he anticipates will be signed “very soon.”

DeSantis highlighted three pieces of the bill's impact to Florida schools, saying it provides a clear and concise process for a struggling school to convert to a charter school, restricts the amount of book challenges for residents without children in their school district, and adds Purple Star school districts in the state.

E xpediting schools that are in turnaround status

DeSantis' said if a school district’s plan to turn a school around does not succeed, the pathway for the school to find new direction and leadership should be simple and efficient.

“We are really beefing up our turnaround school status,” DeSantis said.

DeSantis said the new bill will help to prevent situations like the one that occurred at Warring Middle School prior to its conversion to Warrington Preparatory Academy last year by giving school districts a stricter timeline to lock down a contract with a charter school company.

The middle school formerly known as Warrington Middle School under Escambia County Public Schools was taken over by charter company Charter Schools USA this school year, leaving the new company with under 60 days to renovate and prepare before the new school year. The school had a long history of failing grades under ECPS.

“This not something that happened easily,” DeSantis said of reopening the school as Warrington Preparatory Academy. “There was a lot of gnashing of teeth, there was a lot of dragging of feet.”

“It took forever to be able to do the charter contract,” DeSantis said.

Handing the school over was a point of tension for the Escambia County School Board, who were under pressure by the State Board of Education to lock down a contract.

DeSantis said it wasn’t until the salaries of school board members were jeopardized that they “changed their tune very quickly” and locked down the agreement.

Florida Department of Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. faulted local leaders for the drawn-out process.

“I think the problem here is the responsibility falls solely on the Escambia School District for not only failing to reach the contract now, but it’s been a decade,” Diaz said during an Emergency State Board of Education teleconference last May. “The responsibility is not on this (state) board, it’s not on Charter Schools USA, it is on Escambia Public Schools.”

Charter Schools USA has been working to improve the performance of the middle school through structural and curriculum improvements, according to Charter Schools USA staff who spoke Monday.

DeSantis said the new bill will also ensure that students geographically zoned for the charter school will have priority access to the school once it is reopened.

“The kids that were not being served well are first in line to have a step up,” DeSantis said.

Residents without children in the school district will have book challenge restrictions

Under the new bill, residents that are not a parent or guardian to a child in their local school district would be limited to one book objection per month.

DeSantis said this will be an effort to prevent the book challenge process from being politicized by “activists” who are unnecessarily restricting books from students.

In Escambia County specifically, he said he has seen books under review that have been part of education for many, many years. He said he has also seen books that were covered up and unable to be checked out.

“That’s performative, that’s political,” DeSantis said.

Unlimited objections remain for parents with children in the school district, which includes homeschooled students accessing district materials. 

DeSantis maintained that he is making an effort to keep pornography out of school libraries and said if a book is too sexually explicit to be read aloud or shown in a school board meeting, it should not be in schools.

While citizens can have an interest in education, the bill will prioritize parents, DeSantis said.

“It’s important that parents have a seat at the table,” DeSantis said.

Purple star school districts would be recognized

The bill would also recognize “Purple Star School Districts,” which recognizes districts with Purple Star schools making up 75% of schools in their district.

Purple Star schools support the unique needs of miliary families and help ensure them a seamless transition into Florida by requiring schools to provide them with support and resources. 

The Florida Purple Star School of Distinction designation was established by the Florida legislature in 2021, and schools maintain the distinction for three years. Purple Star schools support the unique needs of miliary families.

DeSantis said that the new designation would be an incentive for Florida schools to increase their number of Purple Star schools. It will also contribute to Florida’s military-friendly reputation, DeSantis said.

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Librarians fear new penalties, even prison, as activists challenge books

Tom Bober, librarian and President of the Missouri Association of School Librarians, poses for a photo Wednesday, March 20, 2024, in Clayton, Mo. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

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When an illustrated edition of Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” was released in 2019, educators in Clayton, Missouri needed little debate before deciding to keep copies in high school libraries. The book is widely regarded as a classic work of dystopian literature about the oppression of women, and a graphic novel would help it reach teens who struggle with words alone.

But after Missouri legislators passed a law in 2022 subjecting librarians to fines and possible imprisonment for allowing sexually explicit materials on bookshelves, the suburban St. Louis district reconsidered the new Atwood edition, and withdrew it.

“There’s a depiction of a rape scene, a handmaid being forced into a sexual act,” says Tom Bober, Clayton district’s library coordinator and president of the Missouri Association of School Librarians. “It’s literally one panel of the graphic novel, but we felt it was in violation of the law in Missouri.”

Across the country, book challenges and bans have soared to the highest levels in decades. Public and school-based libraries have been inundated with complaints from community members and conservative organizations such as as Moms for Liberty. Increasingly, lawmakers are considering new punishments — crippling lawsuits, hefty fines, and even imprisonment — for distributing books some regard as inappropriate.

The trend comes as officials seek to define terms such as “obscene” and “harmful.” Many of the conflicts involve materials featuring racial and/or LGBTQ+ themes, such as Toni Morrison’s novel, “The Bluest Eye,” and Maia Kobabe’s memoir, “Gender Queer.” And while no librarian or educator has been jailed, the threat alone has led to more self-censorship.

Already this year, lawmakers in more than 15 states have introduced bills to impose harsh penalties on libraries or librarians.

Utah enacted legislation in March that empowers the state’s Attorney General to enforce a new system of challenging and removing “sensitive” books from school settings. The law also creates a panel to monitor compliance and violations.

Awaiting Idaho Gov. Brad Little’s signature is a bill that empowers local prosecutors to bring charges against public and school libraries if they don’t move “harmful” materials away from children.

“The laws are designed to limit or remove legal protections that libraries have had for decades,” says Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom.

Since the early 1960s, institutions including schools, libraries and museums — as well as educators, librarians and other staffers who distribute materials to children — have largely been exempt from expensive lawsuits or potential criminal charges.

These protections began showing up in states as America grappled with standards surrounding obscenity, which was defined by the Supreme Court in 1973.

Ruling 5-4 in Miller v. California, the justices said obscene materials are not automatically protected by the First Amendment, and offered three criteria that must be met for being labeled obscene: whether the work, taken as a whole, appeals to “prurient interest,” whether “the work depicts or describes, in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct specifically defined by the applicable state law,” and whether the work lacks “serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.”

Eventually, almost every state adopted protections for educators, librarians and museum officials, among others who provide information to minors.

“Until recently, police and prosecutors were unable to pursue charges against public libraries over materials that make certain individuals uncomfortable. These exemptions have prevented spurious prosecutions of teachers over health and sexuality curriculum, art, theater, and difficult subjects in English classes,” stated a 2023 report from EveryLibrary, a national political action committee that opposes censorship.

Arkansas and Indiana targeted educators and librarians with criminalization laws last year. Tennessee criminalized publishers that provide “obscene” materials to public schools.

Some Republicans are seeking penalties and restrictions that would apply nationwide. Referring to “pornography” in the foreword to Project 2025, the Heritage Foundation’s blueprint for a possible second Donald Trump administration, the right-wing group’s president, Kevin Roberts, wrote that the “people who produce and distribute it should be imprisoned. Educators and public librarians who purvey it should be classed as registered sex offenders.”

Arkansas’ version was temporarily blocked by a federal judge after a coalition of librarians and publishers challenged the legality of subjecting librarians and booksellers to criminal charges if they provide “harmful” materials to minors.

Indiana lawmakers stripped away “educational purposes” as a defense for school librarians and educators charged with giving minors “obscene” or “harmful” material — felonies punishable by up to 2½ years in jail and $10,000 in fines. The law also requires public catalogs of what’s in each school library and systems for responding to complaints.

Indiana’s law took effect January 1. It’s likely a matter of when — not if — a lawsuit is filed, and the anxiety has created a chilling effect.

“It’s putting fear into some people. It’s very scary,” said Diane Rogers, a school librarian who serves as president of the Indiana Library Federation. “If you’re a licensed teacher just being charged with a felony potentially gets rid of your license even if you’re found innocent. That’s a very serious thing.”

Rogers said she’s confident Indiana’s school libraries don’t offer obscene materials, but she’s seen reports that some districts have moved certain titles to higher age groups or required parental approval to check them out.

A PEN America list shows 300 titles were removed from school libraries across 11 Missouri districts after lawmakers in 2022 banned “sexually explicit” material, punishable by up to a year in jail or a $2,000 fine. The American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri and library groups challenged the law last year, but it remains in effect pending a motion for the state to intervene.

“Gender Queer” is another title no longer available to high schoolers in Clayton, where district officials recently turned their attention to Mike Curato’s graphic novel, “Flamer,” about a teenager who struggles with his sexual identity and how to fit in at Boy Scout camp. The American Library Association included “Flamer” on its list of 2023’s most challenged and/or banned books .

“We had a lot of conversations about how to interpret the law and not be in violation,” Bober said. “But we also didn’t want to overreach and overcensor our collections. With ‘Flamer,’ we did not feel we were in violation of the law.”

A new book has amplified fierce debate around teens, mental health and smartphones

A new book has embroiled the academic community in a heated debate over whether spending time on smartphones affects young people’s mental health and, if so, how.

Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt’s “ The Anxious Generation ,” published last week, argues that the smartphone-driven “great rewiring of childhood” is causing an “epidemic of mental illness.” He suggests four ways to combat this: no smartphones before high school, no social media before age 16, no phones in schools; and prioritizing real-world play and independence.

“I call smartphones ‘experience blockers,’ because once you give the phone to a child, it’s going to take up every moment that is not nailed down to something else,” Haidt told TODAY.com , adding, “It’s basically the loss of childhood in the real world.”

Phones and social media have become a ubiquitous part of everyday life. But as much as researchers study their impact, there remains no easy answer to how exactly these technologies affect the mental health of kids and teens.

Haidt’s book quickly has generated a wave of both support and backlash, including a viral review in the scientific journal Nature that argues Haidt is contributing to a “rising hysteria” around social media and screen time that’s unproductive in addressing the “real causes” of teen depression and anxiety.

“We have a generation in crisis and in desperate need of the best of what science and evidence-based solutions can offer,” psychologist Candice Odgers wrote in her scathing review. “Unfortunately, our time is being spent telling stories that are unsupported by research and that do little to support young people who need, and deserve, more.”

Over the past decade, scholars and politicians have grown increasingly concerned about the potential impact of social media and screen time on young people. A Senate hearing in January grilled the CEOs of several major social media companies on a variety of topics related to child safety, including their platforms’ impacts on youth mental health.

Also in January, California introduced a bill aimed at protecting children from social media addiction. And last week, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law a ban on children under 14 joining social media, which takes effect next January.

Research linking social media use to poor youth mental health led U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy to issue an advisory last year warning of social media’s potential harms to child and adolescent well-being. Up to 95% of youth ages 13 to 17 say they use social media, according to the report , with more than one-third saying they use it “almost constantly.”

Some academics and scientists remain unconvinced that current evidence shows a causal link between social media and poor mental health. Christopher Ferguson, a psychology professor at Stetson University, said he believes the concern is part of a recurring moral panic largely driven by older adults.

He pointed to a cyclical pattern in which disruptive new technologies — from TV to video games to, more recently, generative AI — almost always undergo periods of uproar over their potential harms. He said the buildup of concern around smartphones started slower than most, only taking significant shape in the late 2010s.

But the toothpaste can’t be squeezed back into the tube. The kids who are on smartphones and social media now will be using those technologies well into old age, Ferguson said, and it’ll be their turn to “freak out” once a new, unfamiliar technology threatens to displace their habits.

“I just think this is how it is now. It’s just a matter of getting used to that,” Ferguson said. “For some reason, society always wants to throw a temper tantrum when a new thing comes along. And eventually, like all temper tantrums, they go away.” 

But researcher Jean Twenge, author of “Generations” and “iGen,” said there’s a “reasonably robust” consensus among academics that smartphones and social media are at least partially linked to the rise in teen depression, self harm and loneliness.

She said she believes the pushback comes from a smaller group of academics whose arguments imply that screen time and social media are harmless. Unlike Ferguson, Twenge said she believes the skepticism around them will continue to grow over time.

“The critics in this area need to answer one important question,” said Twenge, a psychology professor at San Diego State University. “If smartphones and social media are not behind the increase in teen depression, what is? Because over and over, the answers that they have given have not been supportable.”

Ninety percent of this debate is basically just back-and-forths about different studies that are subtly designed differently and create totally different results.

-Joseph Bak-Coleman, an associate research scientist at the Columbia School of journalism

Joseph Bak-Coleman, an associate research scientist at the Columbia School of Journalism who studies collective decision-making, said part of why the effects of phone and social media use are so difficult to study is because research subjects cannot be fully isolated from the impact of these technologies.

This leads to conflicting research results, he said, as even individuals who eschew social media and smartphones still live within networks of people who do use them — and in a world already shaped by them.

As Bak-Coleman puts it: “ Ninety percent of this debate is basically just back-and-forths about different studies that are subtly designed differently and create totally different results. And then everyone fights.”

While social platforms and regulators have an obligation to figure out how to protect children and teens, he suspects any restrictive protections would be a “nightmare” to enforce. Measures such as removing access to phones entirely could cause different troubles in a world where kids rely on cellphones to contact their parents, he said, and where many aspects of life now take place in the digital realm.

And because the average effects of social media use might also look different from the effects on those who are most at risk for certain harms, Bak-Coleman said it could be more worthwhile to hone in on specific concerns instead of trying to identify a broad trend in how phones impact mental health.

“Rather than asking, is it a net negative or positive, which is an absurd discussion,” he said, “it’d be much nicer if we could ask: What are the impacts? To who? And which thing does it, and how can you change it?”

Angela Yang is a culture and trends reporter for NBC News.

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• Crime, justice and law
• Prisons and probation

Featherstone Prison

Featherstone is a men’s prison in the village of Featherstone, near Wolverhampton.

Help us to improve this page. Give us your feedback in this 2-minute survey .

Book and plan your visit to Featherstone

To visit someone in Featherstone you must:

• be on that person’s visitor list
• book your visit at least 2 days in advance
• have the required ID with you when you go

You can book up to 14 days in advance.

Prisoners can have up to 3 adult visitors at a time (18 or over) plus children.

A prisoner can have as many visits as they have visiting orders for. You can check this with the prisoner you are going to visit.

Contact Featherstone if you have any questions about visiting.

Help with the cost of your visit

If you get certain benefits or have an NHS health certificate, you might be able to get help with the costs of your visit , including:

• travel to Featherstone
• somewhere to stay overnight

How to book family and friends visits

You can book your visit online or by telephone.

Telephone booking line: 0300 060 6502 Find out about call charges

The booking line is open:

• Monday, Wednesday and Friday: midday to 5pm
• Tuesday and Thursday: 9am to 5pm

Telephone bookings can be made up until 5pm, two days prior to a visit.

If you have any questions you can email [email protected] , however they are not able to book a visit.

For general visits queries, not booking requests, you can also contact PACT on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from midday to 5pm on 01902 70 3254 Find out about call charges

We also have a visitor’s centre website you can visit on: http://featherstonevisits.co.uk/

Visiting times

• Tuesday: 2pm to 4pm
• Wednesday: 2pm to 4pm
• Thursday: 2pm to 4pm
• Saturday: 2pm to 4pm
• Sunday: 2pm to 4pm

How to book legal and professional visits

You can book your legal visit by telephone using the booking line number, 0300 060 6502. Find out about call charges

Legal visits:

• Tuesday and Thursday: 9:30am to 11:30am The latest arrival time is 10:30am

HMP Featherstone operates paperless visits and legal visitors may bring in plug in fire sticks or similar devices to access paperwork which will be securely printed in the visits room. Legal visits staff will provide stationery for legal visitors to use.

Laptops may be brought in but only if the Wi-Fi and camera is disabled. Should a legal visitor have a question about bringing in any documents that are required to be brought in they may contact either 01902 703 264 or 01902 703 048 for approval. Please note this number is not manned all day. Find out about call charges

Getting to Featherstone

Find Featherstone on a map

Car: From Wolverhampton take the A449 northbound – there is a visitor’s car parking facility at the prison.

Bus: Take number 70 from Stand AC to Cannock. Depart the bus at Honeysuckle Drive, Featherstone. Then walk along New Road towards the Prison (approx. 25 minutes). The Visitors’ Centre is well signposted.

Train: The Nearest Railway Station is 6 miles away in Wolverhampton and you can complete the rest of journey by bus or taxi.

Shuttle Bus: A low-cost shuttle bus service is available 7 days a week. To learn more about this regular service, speak to a member of staff by calling: 01902 799787, or email: [email protected]

To plan your journey by public transport:

• use National Rail Enquiries
• use Traveline for local bus times

There is a free visitors car park.

There are disabled visitors spaces in our visitors car park.

Entering Featherstone

All visitors, aged 16 or older must prove their identity before entering the prison. Read the list of acceptable forms of ID when visiting a prison .

• All visitors will need to be given a pat-down search, including children
• You may also be sniffed by security dogs

For security, health and safety reasons, some prisons have a specific dress code for visitors and others have a more relaxed policy, making assessments on a case-by-case basis. At the time we compiled this information, HMP Featherstone’s guidelines were as follows:

• modest dress
• no work clothes (including uniforms and trousers with  multiple pockets)
• no sports shirts or football shirts
• no jumpers or shirts with hoods
• no mobile phones
• no offensive logos
• no sunglasses or headscarves unless worn for religious reasons
• no ripped jeans
• no vest tops
• no short skirts or dresses, they must be knee length

What can I bring in for my children?

You may bring in:

• milk powder
• prescribed medication

You will be told the rules by an officer at the start of your visit. If you break the rules, your visit could be cancelled and you could be banned from visiting again.

• there are strict controls on what you can take into HMP Featherstone. You will have to leave most of the things you have with you in a locker in the visitors’ centre or in your car
• each adult visitor is permitted to bring in £20 in coins only, for purchasing refreshments - notes are not permitted.

Call our visits centre if you have any questions about visiting 01902 70 3254 or email them on  [email protected]

Visiting facilities

There is a visitors centre run by PACT where there are baby changing facilities available.

Refreshments are available to purchase in our visits centre and in the visits room. Each adult visitor is permitted to bring in £20 in coins only, for purchasing refreshments. Notes are not permitted.

The centre is open daily, except Monday and Friday, from midday to 4:30pm.

Family days

High Featherstone run 12 family visits a year. Details on how these visits run can be found by contacting the PACT team on 01902 70 3254.

Keep in touch with someone at Featherstone

There are several ways you can keep in touch with someone during their time at Featherstone.

Secure video calls

To have a secure video call with someone in this prison you need to:

• Download the Prison Video app
• Create an account
• Register all visitors
• Add the prisoner to your contact list.

How to book a secure video call

You can request a secure video call with someone in this prison via the Prison Video app.

You will receive a notification when your request has been accepted.

Read more about how it works ###Phone calls Prisoners have phones in their cells but these can only make outgoing calls so they will always have to call you. They have to buy phone credits to do this.

They can phone anyone named on their list of friends and family. This list is checked by security when they first arrive so it may take a few days before they are able to call.

You can also exchange voicemails using the Prison Voicemail service .

Officers may listen to phone calls as a way of preventing crime and helping keep people safe.

You can send emails to someone in Featherstone using the Email a Prisoner service .

You might also be able to attach photos and receive replies, depending on the rules at Featherstone.

You can write at any time.

Include the person’s name and prisoner number on the envelope.

If you do not know their prisoner number, contact Featherstone .

All post, apart from legal letters, will be opened and checked by officers.

Send money and gifts

You can use the free and fast online service to send money to someone in prison .

You can no longer send money by bank transfer, cheque, postal order or send cash by post.

If you cannot use the online service, you may be able to apply for an exemption - for example if you:

• are unable to use a computer, a smart phone or the internet
• do not have a debit card

This will allow you to send money by post.

Gifts and parcels

You can only send items to prisoners in Featherstone in exceptional circumstances. Prisoners can apply to the governor for permission.

All parcels will be opened and checked by officers.

Friends and families of prisoners are permitted to send books directly to their loved ones, or can order books from approved retailers, which can source and send the books on to prisoners.

For the full list of approved retailers, you can read the HMPPS Incentives Policy, Annex F .

Life at Featherstone

Featherstone is committed to providing a safe and educational environment where prisoners can learn new skills to help them on release.

Security and safeguarding

Every person at Featherstone has a right to feel safe. The staff are responsible for their safeguarding and welfare at all times.

For further information about what to do when you are worried or concerned about someone in prison visit the Prisoners’ Families helpline website .

Featherstone also trains prisoners to be ‘listeners’ for those who need support during difficult times.

Arrival and first night

When someone first arrives at Featherstone, they will be able to contact a family member by phone. This could be quite late in the evening, depending on the time they arrive. All cells in the first night centre have phones that can be used at any time.

They will get to speak to someone who will check how they’re feeling and ask about any immediate health and wellbeing needs.

They will be checked on regularly throughout their first 24 hours at Featherstone to make sure they are supported through their induction.

Each prisoner who arrives at Featherstone gets an induction that lasts about a week. They will meet professionals who will help them with:

• health and wellbeing, including mental and sexual health
• any substance misuse issues, including drugs and alcohol
• personal development in custody and on release, including skills, education and training
• other support (sometimes called ‘interventions’), such as managing difficult emotions

Everyone also finds out about the rules, fire safety, and how things like calls and visits work.

All new prisoners will be given a key worker who will come and get to know them.

Accommodation

Around 690 prisoners live at Featherstone across 7 house units. There is a mixture of single and shared cells.

Facilities include a gym and library.

Education and work

Education at Featherstone is provided by Novus . They run a number of academic courses including Entry Level, Level 1 and Level 2 Maths and English and ITQ.

They also run vocational courses including:

• hospitality
• painting and decorating
• brick laying

Prisoners can also complete higher level qualifications through the Open University.

There are a wide range of activities and interventions available for prisoners to develop their skills and progress through their sentence.

Featherstone also runs specialist qualifications in RMF rail track, motor vehicle and tyre fitting.

Prisoners can also work in a wide range of workshops, including industries, construction, textiles and a print shop.

Support for family and friends

Family services at Featherstone are provided by PACT .

Support at Featherstone

Families can get help and advice from the family engagement team at the visitors centre.

Concerns, problems and complaints

In an emergency.

Call 01902 70 3000 if you think a prisoner is at immediate risk of harm. Ask for the Orderly Officer and explain that your concern is an emergency.

Problems and complaints

If you have a problem contact Featherstone .

Inspection reports

HM Prison and Probation Service publishes action plans for Featherstone in response to independent inspections.

Contact Featherstone

Governor: Neil O’Connor

Telephone (24 hours): 01902 703 000 Fax: 01902 703 001 Find out about call charges

To contact our head of family provision please email   [email protected]

HMP Featherstone New Road Featherstone Wolverhampton WV10 7PU

Opening hours updated for visits booking telephone line.

Updated legal visits enquiries phone number to, 01902 703 264 or 01902 703 048

Secure video calls update.

Updated visiting guidance based on 1 April COVID rule changes

Added link to new safer custody information under Security and safeguarding.

Updated visiting information: Reduced visit schedule and testing for visitors aged 12 and over.

Updated visiting information: Testing for visitors aged 12 and over.

Added link to information about testing for physical contact at visits.

New visiting times and booking information added.

Prison moved into National Stage 3 framework and is now preparing to open visits for family, friends and significant others. We will update this page with specific visiting information as soon as possible.

Updated visit info

Updated visiting information in line with new local restriction tiers.

Updated visiting information in line with coronavirus restrictions.

First published.

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