With Kind Permission From Billy Bragg
Trusted Prison Law Specialists Supporting York Clients
Prison law deals with decisions and proceedings that arise after someone has been sentenced. These matters can have a direct effect on release, time spent in custody and important decisions made during a prison sentence, so advice needs to come from someone who understands this specialist area of law.
At Chivers Solicitors, prison law is an established part of our work. Our team advises prisoners and their families on Parole Board reviews, recall, independent prison adjudications, sentence calculation and specific prison decisions that fall within our service. Principal Marcus Farrar has worked with convicted prisoners on Prison Law matters since 1998 and established the Prison Law Department at Chivers Solicitors.
We support clients across York and North Yorkshire through our existing offices and national Prison Law service. Legal Aid may be available for many prison law matters, depending on the work involved and the funding rules that apply.
Urgent Prison Law Advice For York Clients
Some prison law matters require advice at an early stage. A recall to custody can happen quickly, while parole proceedings, serious adjudications and decisions affecting a sentence can involve evidence and procedures that are difficult to deal with without specialist legal knowledge.
Chivers Solicitors supports prisoners and families in York, North Yorkshire and surrounding areas. We do not have an office in York, with enquiries from the area handled through our established offices, including our Bingley head office in West Yorkshire. Our Prison Law team represents clients in prisons across England and Wales, so the location of the prisoner does not prevent a family in York from making an enquiry.
If a family member is trying to arrange advice for somebody in custody, you can contact us first. We can establish what the problem involves and explain what information or authority will be needed before we can take the matter further.
Combined years of post-qualified legal experience in Criminal Law
Expert Prison Law Advice
Expert Prison Law Advice In York
The legal help somebody needs during a prison sentence will depend on the decision or proceedings involved. A prisoner approaching a Parole Board review will be in a different position from somebody who has just been recalled or is facing a serious adjudication.
Our Prison Law team considers the individual issue before explaining whether it falls within the work we undertake and what can be done next.
Parole Reviews & Recall to Prison
A Parole Board review can determine whether a prisoner can safely be released into the community or, in some cases, whether another recommendation should be made about their progression.
Our parole solicitors advise on Parole Board reviews involving determinate and extended sentences, life sentences, IPP prisoners and people who have been recalled to custody. We can review the parole dossier, advise on the evidence and provide representation at an oral hearing where appropriate.
The Parole Board considers evidence relating to risk before deciding whether the legal test for release has been met. Reports from professionals involved with the prisoner can form part of that evidence, alongside information about the sentence and plans for managing risk following release.
Recall cases can require particularly prompt advice. A person who was previously released on licence may find themselves back in custody, while their family may have limited information about what has happened or what the next stage involves.
Chivers can advise on recall and the Parole Board proceedings that follow where applicable. If somebody close to you has been returned to prison, you can also read about prison recall through our dedicated resource.
Licence Conditions: Scope Note
Chivers can advise on licence conditions in specific cases where release has been directed by the Parole Board.
This may involve proposed conditions connected with release following a successful Parole Board review. The exact advice available will depend on the circumstances and the stage the case has reached.
We do not advise on licence conditions following automatic release, including proposed challenges to those conditions. If you are unsure which type of release applies, we can establish this when you make your initial enquiry.
Independent Prison Adjudications
Some allegations of misconduct in prison can be referred by the Governor for an independent adjudication before an Independent Adjudicator, who is a District Judge.
Chivers provides prison adjudication advice where a matter has been referred for independent adjudication. We do not provide representation for routine adjudications that remain before the prison Governor.
Independent adjudications deal with serious disciplinary allegations and can carry significant consequences. Where the law allows, an Independent Adjudicator can impose additional days of imprisonment. A finding may also form part of a prisoner’s record and can be relevant to later decisions.
Our team can examine the allegation and available evidence, explain the procedure and provide representation where the matter falls within our service.
Categorisation, Sentence Calculation & Specific Prison Decisions
Some prison law enquiries concern a particular decision made during a sentence rather than parole or disciplinary proceedings.
Chivers can assist with Category A reviews and recategorisation applications where a Category A prisoner is seeking Category B status. We do not provide a general recategorisation service across all prison categories.
We can also advise on open conditions where the Parole Board is involved and on release planning where it forms part of a Parole Board case. General sentence progression concerns that fall outside these areas are not work we undertake.
Sentence calculation is another area where specialist advice may be needed. Questions can arise about the dates being applied to a sentence or the way periods in custody have been calculated. Our team can review sentence calculation issues that fall within our Prison Law service and advise on the appropriate next step.
We also advise prisoners serving indeterminate sentences, including people serving IPP sentences where the issue falls within our parole work. Families looking for further background can find out more about IPP through our existing Prison Law resource.
Judicial Review In Prison Law Cases
Judicial Review is a legal process used to examine whether a decision made by a public body was reached lawfully. It does not provide another opportunity to argue a case simply because somebody disagrees with the outcome.
Chivers can provide judicial review in prison law advice in specific cases where our team dealt with the original prison law matter. This could apply where we previously represented a prisoner in a Parole Board review or dealt with a Category A review and a subsequent decision raises grounds that may require legal challenge.
Judicial Review claims are subject to strict time limits. A claim must be made promptly and, in any event, usually no later than three months after the grounds for the claim first arose. Anyone concerned about a decision should therefore seek advice without unnecessary delay.
Where licence conditions are concerned, our existing restriction continues to apply. We do not provide Judicial Review advice concerning licence conditions following automatic release.
Legal Aid For Prison Law Cases
Legal Aid may be available for prison law work, although funding does not extend to every issue that can arise while somebody is in custody.
Many Parole Board and recall cases can fall within the Legal Aid scheme. Funding may also be available for qualifying independent prison adjudications and certain other matters, subject to the applicable Legal Aid rules.
The exact position depends on the legal issue rather than simply the fact that somebody is a prisoner. We will establish what the case involves and explain whether the work falls within the scope of Legal Aid.
Where a matter does not qualify for Legal Aid but is work Chivers can undertake privately, we can explain the available funding position before work begins.
Families in York can contact us about funding as part of their initial enquiry. You do not need to determine for yourself whether the case qualifies before speaking to our team.
Why Choose Chivers Solicitors For Prison Law Support
Prison law requires an understanding of the procedures and legal tests that apply after sentence. Chivers has an established Prison Law service advising prisoners and families across England and Wales.
Clients contact our team because:
- Prison law is a specialist area of our work
- Our team advises on Parole Board proceedings, recall and qualifying prison adjudications
- We explain clearly whether a matter falls within the work we undertake
- Prisoners can access our service from establishments across England and Wales
- Legal Aid may be available for qualifying cases
- Family members can make an initial enquiry for somebody in custody
- Advice is straightforward and focused on the legal issue involved
Our role is to identify what has happened and provide clear advice about the available route. We will also tell you where an issue falls outside our Prison Law service rather than creating unrealistic expectations about what can be challenged.
Get Prison Law Advice In York
If you or somebody close to you needs prison law advice, contacting a specialist at an early stage can help establish what needs to happen next.
Our team can advise on qualifying parole reviews, recall cases, independent adjudications, sentence calculation and specific prison decisions. If you are unsure whether the issue falls within our service, you can contact us with the details and we will establish whether we can assist.
Family members are welcome to make the first enquiry for somebody in custody. It is useful to provide the prisoner’s name, current establishment and a brief explanation of the issue. If you know about an upcoming hearing, review or deadline, tell us when you get in touch.
Call us on 01274 561 666, email us at solicitors@chiverssolicitors.co.uk or fill in our online contact form to speak to our prison law team.
Prison Law Support Across York & North Yorkshire
Chivers Solicitors supports prisoners and families throughout York, North Yorkshire and surrounding areas. We do not have a York office, with enquiries from the area supported through our existing offices and national Prison Law service.
We can assist clients from central York and areas across the city’s YO postcodes, alongside people in surrounding locations including Selby, Tadcaster, Malton and Easingwold.
Our national prison law work also means the prisoner does not need to be held in York or North Yorkshire. We can assist with qualifying cases involving prisoners at establishments across England and Wales.
For families in the York area, this can include enquiries involving prisoners at HMP Full Sutton, HMP/YOI Askham Grange, HMP Millsike and other establishments across the north where the matter falls within our Prison Law service.
York enquiries can be handled through our Bingley head office:
Chivers Solicitors
Arden House, 7/8 Wellington Street, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 2NB
Call our team on 01274 561 666 or email solicitors@chiverssolicitors.co.uk.
Where somebody needs advice about a separate matter relating to criminal proceedings, our criminal defence solicitors in York can provide advice within that service. Our family law solicitors in York can also assist where a separate family law issue needs to be addressed.
Want to chat at a time that suits you?
Prison Solicitor Sheffield FAQs
Do Chivers Solicitors provide prison law advice in York?
Yes. Chivers supports prisoners and families throughout York and North Yorkshire through our existing offices and national Prison Law service. We do not have a York office. Enquiries from York can be handled through our Bingley head office, while our team represents prisoners in establishments across England and Wales.
Can family members contact you on behalf of someone in custody?
Yes. Family members can make the first enquiry, particularly where somebody has been recalled or has an approaching parole review or independent adjudication. We may need the prisoner’s authority before discussing confidential information or formally acting, but we can explain what is required when you contact us.
Can you help with parole reviews?
Yes. Our parole solicitors advise on Parole Board reviews involving determinate and extended sentences, life sentences, IPP cases and recall. We can advise on the evidence, prepare for the review and provide representation at an oral hearing where appropriate.
Which office handles York prison law cases?
York enquiries can be handled through Chivers Solicitors’ Bingley head office at Arden House, 7/8 Wellington Street, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 2NB. We do not have a physical office in York. Call 01274 561 666 or email solicitors@chiverssolicitors.co.uk to contact the Prison Law team.
Can you help if someone has been recalled to prison?
Yes. Chivers advises prisoners and families dealing with recall to custody and the Parole Board process that can follow. The appropriate steps will depend on the type of recall and the individual circumstances, so contact us as soon as possible if you need advice.
Can you help with licence conditions?
Chivers can advise on licence conditions where the Parole Board has directed release. We do not advise on licence conditions following automatic release and do not offer Judicial Review challenges concerning automatic-release licence conditions.
Do you advise on prison adjudications?
We provide advice and representation where an adjudication has been referred by the Governor to an Independent Adjudicator, who is a District Judge. We do not provide representation for routine internal adjudications that remain before the prison Governor.
Is Legal Aid available for prison law matters?
Legal Aid may be available for qualifying prison law matters, including many parole and recall cases and certain independent prison adjudications. Availability depends on the type of legal work and the funding rules that apply. We can explain the funding position once we know what the case involves.
our trusted legal experts
“Chivers Solicitors are dedicated to providing honest, straightforward advice to clients in a friendly and cost effective way.”
Marcus Farrar, Principal