horfield prison visits

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• Crime, justice and law
• Prisons and probation

Bristol Prison

Bristol Prison is a men’s prison in the Horfield area of Bristol.

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

Book and plan your visit to Bristol prison

To visit someone in Bristol Prison you must:

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

At least one visitor must be 18 or older at every visit.

Prisoners who are on remand can have up to 3 visits per week. Prisoners who have been convicted (they have been sentenced or are awaiting sentencing) can have up to 3 visits a month.

Contact Bristol Prison 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 Bristol Prison
• 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 6510

Find out about call charges

The booking lines are open:

Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 12pm to 5pm

Tuesday and Thursday: 9am to 5pm

Visiting times

Visits alternate weekly between the main population and vulnerable prisoners.

• Monday: No visits
• Tuesday: 2pm to 4pm
• Wednesday: 2pm to 4pm
• Thursday: No visits
• Friday: 2pm to 3pm and 3:30pm to 4:30pm
• Saturday: 2pm to 4pm
• Sunday: 2pm to 4pm

How to book legal and professional visits

Email: to book any legal or professional visits [email protected]

All visits must be booked by the above functional email address and not to individuals who may respond to the emails. All visits are 1-hour slots starting on the hour.

Times of Face to Face visits:

• Monday to Friday: 9am to 11am and 2pm to 4pm

Video link visit times:

• Monday to Friday: 8am to 12pm and 2pm to 6pm

When making reservation, state the prisoner’s name and number (where possible). You may wish to send a selection or range of dates and times. We highly recommend a minimum of one week notice.

Getting to Bristol Prison

Find Bristol Prison on a map

The closest railway stations are Bristol Temple Meads and Bristol Parkway, where you can connect with local bus services. All buses numbered from 70 to 79 pass the prison and can be caught from near the central bus station.

To plan your journey by public transport:

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

If coming by car, you will need to park on the local roads as there is no visitor parking at the prison. There is a parking space for Blue Badge holders on the main road opposite the prison entrance.

Entering Bristol Prison

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

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

Visitors should dress appropriately. You may be turned away if you are wearing items like revealing clothing or clothing with offensive slogans. Ask at the visitors centre if you have questions about appropriate dress.

Each group of visitors is allowed to take in a maximum of £50 to buy food and drink from the snack bar in the visiting hall.

There are strict controls on what you can take into Bristol Prison. You will have to leave most of the things you have with you behind. Lockers are available in the visitors centre. This includes pushchairs and car seats.

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.

Visiting facilities

There is a visitors centre run by The Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT) . Family and friends can relax, buy refreshments and get advice and support from the staff.

It is open from midday on visiting days.

Telephone: 01179 244 866 Find out about call charges

The visiting hall includes a play area for children and a snack bar.

Family days

Family days are run at HMP Bristol by Pact family support services, these are organised at different times throughout the calendar year.

Keep in touch with someone at Bristol Prison

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

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

Secure video calls at this prison can be requested by prisoners only.

You will receive a notification if a prisoner has requested a video call with you.

Read more about how it works

Phone calls

All prisoners have phones in their cells which they can use at any time. The phones do not accept incoming calls so they will always need 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 Bristol Prison using the Email a Prisoner service .

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

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 Bristol Prison .

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

Friends and family can hand in the following items before a visit:

• underwear, socks and court clothes (shirts, trousers, shoes, ties and jackets)
• books (not puzzle books or magazines)

It’s also possible to send these items and other kinds of clothing and footwear by post. For this, you will need a property voucher which the prisoner must apply for and send you by post. Fix the voucher to your parcel before sending it in.

Make sure to include the person’s name and prisoner number on the order. They will be opened and checked by officers. For court clothes, allow at least 5 days for the parcel to be searched and reach the prisoner.

Any parcels without a property voucher or that look to be tampered with will be refused.

Prisoners can buy a variety of items for themselves from the canteen and through a catalogue system.

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 .

Contact Bristol Prison for more information on gifts and parcels.

Life at Bristol Prison

Bristol Prison is committed to providing a safe and supportive environment where prisoners can learn new skills to help them on release.

Security and safeguarding

Every person at Bristol Prison 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 .

Prisoners can also be trained by the Samaritans to be ‘listeners’ to help support people going through difficult times.

Arrival and first night

When a prisoner first arrives at Bristol Prison, they will be able to contact a family member by phone. (In some circumstances a call may be made on his behalf.) This could be quite late in the evening, depending on the time they arrive.

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

If the prisoner has cash when they arrive, they will have the chance to buy canteen supplies and add money to their phone account.

Each person who arrives at Bristol Prison 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

They will also get a gym induction so they can safely use the gym facilities.

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

Accommodation

About 500 prisoners are at Bristol Prison across 5 main wings. One wing has single cells while the rest are shared.

Education and work

Prisoners have access to a range of work, training and education opportunities. Courses include:

• health and safety
• food safety
• NVQs levels 1 and 2 in warehouse and storage and performing manufacturing operations
• bike mechanics
• peer mentoring
• healthier lifestyles

Employability skills workshops are run monthly to give help with CVs, job applications and interview skills.

Prisoners can also get help and support on issues such as health and wellbeing, substance misuse, housing, debt and family relationships in preparation for release.

Organisations Bristol works with

Bristol works with Catch 22 , a not-for-profit business, to help prisoners prepare for their release. They provide support with things like housing, employment, finance and relationships.

Support for family and friends

Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends .

To contact the Head of family provision at HMP Bristol email:  [email protected] .

Concerns, problems and complaints

In an emergency.

Call 01173 723 100 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 any other problem contact Bristol Prison .

Inspection reports

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

Contact Bristol Prison

Governor: Vanessa Prendergast Telephone: 0117 372 3100 Fax: 0117 372 3113 Find out about call charges

HMP Bristol 19 Cambridge Road Bristol BS7 8PS

Opening hours updated for visits booking telephone line.

Updated visiting guidance based on 1 April COVID rule changes

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

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

Update to rules for sending in money and gifts.

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 prison info

Updated visiting information in line with new local restriction tiers.

Updated visiting information in line with new national restrictions in England.

Updated visiting information in line with coronavirus restrictions.

Updated information about secure video calls.

Visit information update

First published.

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Blog Government Digital Service

https://gds.blog.gov.uk/2014/09/15/you-can-now-book-a-prison-visit-online/

You can now book a prison visit online

Booking a prison visit should be simple and straightforward. Until now that was far from the case. Booking a visit required both prisoner and visitor to jump through hoops: paper forms and drawn-out phone calls. And if the visit date turned out to be impossible, they had to start all over again.

Now you can book a visit online . It takes about 5 minutes. Before, picking an available date was pot luck. Now there's a date-picker that lets you select 3 possible slots instead of 1. It’s a straight-forward service with user-needs at its heart but, if you get stuck, you can call the prison's visits booking line and someone will help you with the booking.

Here's a very short film we've made about it:

By making it easier to book visits, prisoners will see more of their friends and family. Evidence suggests this will help their rehabilitation. Transformation isn't just about websites.

The service was built by the Ministry of Justice, with a combined team from the National Offender Management Service, HM Prison Service and MoJ Digital Services.

For more of the story behind this service, read Mike Bracken's account of his trip to HMP Rochester or check out the service’s transformation page .

Join the conversation on Twitter , and don't forget to sign up for email alerts .

You may also be interested in:

• Prison visit booking: using digital analytics to inform alpha development
• Making prison visits easier to book
• Meet the Transformation team

Sharing and comments

Share this page, 20 comments.

Comment by Pauline posted on 23 August 2015

How do you find out the prisoners number??? so you can go ahead with online booking of a visit?

Comment by Carrie Barclay posted on 24 August 2015

You can find a prisoner using this service: https://www.gov.uk/find-prisoner However it will be the prisoner's responsibility to get in touch with you to let you know their prison number etc.

Comment by linda posted on 15 August 2015

This service does not appear to work this is day 2 trying to use it

Comment by Olivia posted on 30 July 2015

Hi, If a visit is booked and someone cant make it, is it possible to change the name of one of the people to someone else?

Comment by Louise Duffy posted on 30 July 2015

It's best to contact the prison directly if this happens. You can find contact details here: http://www.justice.gov.uk/contacts/prison-finder

Thanks, Louise

Comment by Paige posted on 28 July 2015

Hi my partner was sent to nottingham today, I was on his previous list 4 months ago for a visit. Will that still be on the system all will it have to he put through again if so how long does it take to be approved for a visit? Thanks Paige.

Comment by Louise Duffy posted on 29 July 2015

You might want to get in touch with the prison first before booking a visit. You can find the contact details of the prison here: http://www.justice.gov.uk/contacts/prison-finder

Comment by Debs posted on 27 July 2015

Hello Is there a list of prisons where online booking can't be used?

Comment by Louise Duffy posted on 28 July 2015

According to the information on this page: https://www.gov.uk/prison-visits , you can arrange a visit to any prison in England and Wales through this service. If you're visiting someone in Northern Ireland or Scotland you'll need to contact the prison directly.

This link also lists the type of visits that are not covered by the online service: https://www.gov.uk/prison-visits so you need to get in touch with the prison directly.

Hope that's helpful.

Comment by c.steer posted on 26 July 2015

So how do I find the booking form to fill in I am new to computers

Comment by Louise Duffy posted on 27 July 2015

Here's the link to the booking form: https://www.gov.uk/prison-visits

You'll need this information to complete the form:

prisoner number prisoner’s date of birth dates of birth for all visitors coming with you make sure the person you’re visiting has added you to their visitor list

Hope that's useful.

Comment by Shawnaa posted on 09 May 2015

i have a visit booked which i did online but i do not have a visiting order woll the prison let me in?

Comment by Carrie Barclay posted on 11 May 2015

Your identity will be checked on arrival to make sure you’re on the visitor list.

Comment by jessicca posted on 27 January 2015

What happens after you book the visit and its confirmed by email do you need the visiting order ?

Comment by Carrie Barclay posted on 29 January 2015

The Visiting Order (VO) number is generated by the booking system, it is included in your confirmation email and you will need this to change or cancel a booking.

However, if you're visiting a prison the guidance is that you only need your ID, not the VO number. If when you visit the prison you are asked for the VO number you should report this via the Contact Us link on the Prison Visits Booking form.

I hope that helps.

Comment by Ilysa Mcnally posted on 18 November 2014

How late in advance can I book e.g. book a visit today (Tuesday) for the Sunday coming???

Comment by Carrie Barclay posted on 19 November 2014

Hi Ilysa. Thanks for your question. A visit needs to be booked 3 working days in advance. So in this case, the visit request would have to be no later than Tuesday to allow for a visit on Sunday.

Comment by carole posted on 23 October 2014

How far in advance can you book visits

Comment by Carrie Barclay posted on 23 October 2014

Hi Carole. You can book up to 28 days in advance. Thanks for your question.

Comment by kimberly posted on 16 August 2015

does anyone know how to cancel a visit online?

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Hmp bristol.

• Inside Time Reports
• 13th December 2014
• Male Local , Prison Visit , South West

Prison information

Address: HMP BRISTOL 19 Cambridge Road, Bristol, BS7 8PS Switchboard: 0300 060 6510 Managed by: HMPPS Region:  West Category:  Male Link to: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bristol-prison

Description

Bristol Prison is a men’s prison in the Horfield area of Bristol.

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:

Acceptable forms of ID

Search reports

IMB Reports

Prison Inspectorates Reports

Probation Service Reports

Prisons and Probations Ombudsman

Search the InsideTime library

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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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HMP WINCHESTER

7 thoughts on “ hmp bristol ”.

The new rules about money are that it must be by debit card. But banks advise never to use a debit card over the phone, always a credit card for security.

So how can I send in money to my grandson ?

I need to sent money to my son who is on remand. How can I do it quickly?

how do I send some money in can I do it on line for personal use eg:shower gel,toiletrys ,phone, please could some one let me know.

Editorial Comment: Inside Time have a factsheet which explains the available means of sending money to prisoners in public prisons in England and Wales. For private prisons you would need to contact the specific prison. https://insidetime.org/download/Information/for_prisoners%E2%80%99_families/Sending-money-to-prisoners.pdf

Can a victim of one of the prisoners arrange for a meeting with each other?

I have tried booking a visit all day to be told line closed i need to book a reception visit asap for my son jameshay i do not know his prison number please contact me to sort this out

Does anybody know if prisoners are able to have family visits and legal visits in the same day.

I’ve booked a visit online and it has been confirmed, however I’m pretty sure he has a legal visit on the same day ?

My husband is there in prison and I ve never been there that’s why I am checking on the site

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Bristol Prison Information

Contact information, booking a visit to bristol prison.

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

Unlimited Prison Phone Calls Package

• Criminal Profiles
• Entertainment Industry
• Prison Guide

• September 25, 2023 September 25, 2023

How to Book a Prison Visit Online

Scheduling an in-person visit with an incarcerated loved one is important for maintaining connections. Many corrections departments now allow online prison visit reservations to improve convenience and efficiency. This article outlines the typical process for booking online prison visits.

Check Visitation Eligibility Requirements

Before scheduling visits, confirm eligibility with the facility’s policies:

• Age minimums – Adult visitors usually required.
• Visitor approval – Visitors must be on inmate’s approved list.
• ID/documentation – Valid photo ID often required.
• Allowed items – Review dress code and authorized items.
• Health requirements – Some facilities require COVID vaccination proof.

Ensure you meet all criteria to avoid wasted trips or denied entry.

Create a Visitor Account on the Facility’s Website

Most prisons with online scheduling require creating a visitor account:

• Enter your personal details like name, address, email, phone number.
• Create a username and password for the visitor account.
• Provide your ID number and type (driver’s license, passport, etc).
• Electronically sign any waivers or terms required.

This information links you to the inmate and confirms identity upon arrival.

Schedule Visit Date and Time

With an approved visitor account, you can view visitation calendars and schedule dates/times:

• Select day(s) – Weekends and holidays are busiest.
• Choose time slot(s) – Typical windows are 1-2 hours long.
• Check-in 15-30 minutes prior – To clear security screening.
• Bring printed or digital confirmation – Shows your scheduled slot.

Visits are usually first-come, first-served for available times. Book well in advance for best selection.

Understand Cancellation and No Show Policies

Review policies if you must cancel or miss scheduled visits:

• Timeframe – Cancel at least 24-48 hours in advance when possible.
• Allowed frequency – Too many cancellations or no shows may restrict future visits.
• Notifications – Call the visitation hotline as soon as possible.
• Exceptions – Illness or family emergencies may qualify for waivers.

Follow proper procedures to avoid penalties like temporary visit suspensions.

Arrive Prepared on Visitation Day

Give yourself extra time and arrive prepared:

• Dress appropriately – Follow dress code to get cleared for entry.
• Limited belongings – Carry only approved items needed for children.
• Check in at gate – Provide printed or digital confirmation and ID.
• Clear security – Successfully pass through metal detectors and searches.
• Confirm visitation rules – Keep physical contact limited if prohibited.
• Enjoy visit! – Make the most of this valued time together.

Proper planning ensures visitation goes smoothly.

Online scheduling systems are making arranging prison visits easier and more efficient. Visitors can quickly check availability and reserve slots after creating an approved account. Following facility policies ensures a smooth visitation process. While in-person time is limited, it remains invaluable for maintaining inmate connections and support systems.

FAQs About Booking Online Prison Visits

How far in advance can visits be booked.

Most facilities allow booking 1-4 weeks in advance. Holidays and weekends fill up quickly.

Can visitors schedule multiple back-to-back time slots?

Usually not – facilities limit visits to 1-2 hour sessions with buffer times in between.

Is there an age limit or requirement for minor visitor approval?

Yes, approval rules vary but most prisons prohibit visitors under 18 years old.

Can online visit reservations be made on a mobile device?

Some systems only allow scheduling on the desktop website. But mobile-friendly platforms are becoming more common.

What if a visitor’s plans change after booking?

Notify the prison as soon as possible if you cannot make the booked time. Schedule changes are limited.

How do waiting lists work if times are fully booked?

Waiting lists prioritize visitors by order and frequency since last visit. Openings from cancellations are first-come, first-served.

What happens if a visitor is late for check-in?

You may forfeit that day’s visit. Arrive well before the scheduled window to ensure entry.

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HM Prison Bristol

Table of Contents

HM Prison Bristol, formerly known as Horfield Prison, is a high-walled Category B men’s prison located in the Horfield area of Bristol, England. With origins dating back to the Victorian era, this facility has a long, turbulent history marked by overcrowding, violence, and decaying conditions. However, it continues operating as a hub for remand and sentenced prisoners from across the Southwest. Read on for an in-depth look at the daily life, controversies, and uncertain future facing this troubled gaol.

Location and Layout

Geographically, HM Prison Bristol sits roughly 2 miles north of central Bristol. The grounds occupy a compact 6-acre site enclosed by tall perimeter walls topped with barbed wire. Inside, the prison consists of several multi-story cell blocks constructed from brick and concrete.

The B and C wings were added in the 1960s to increase capacity. Segregation units and healthcare facilities exist onsite. There is also a kitchen, gymnasium, worship areas, workshops, and visitor rooms. A large exercise yard provides limited recreation space for inmates.

Prisoner Demographics

Currently, HM Prison Bristol houses around 640 adult males either on remand, serving short sentences, or imprisoned for serious crimes. It takes in prisoners from across the Southwest region.

A portion of inmates are between 18-21 years old. Others include lifers, violent offenders, and individuals convicted of drug offenses. Segregated vulnerable prisoner and sex offender units also operate. The diverse prisoner mix contributes to tensions.

Daily life for prisoners at HM Bristol varies based on their status but generally follows a highly regimented schedule. Most inmates spend almost all their time confined to cramped shared cells lacking privacy or meaningful activities.

Work opportunities include facility maintenance, kitchen duties, cleaning, and attending workshops. Education is available occasionally. Healthcare and drug addiction treatment exist but remain under strain. Legally-required standards for nutrition, exercise, and hygiene are minimally met.

Violence and bullying between vulnerable inmates and gangs are constant threats. Weapons fashioned from scraps are common. Security staff maintain order through intimidation and forced isolation. Access to visits, phone calls, and mail provide rare connections to the outside.

Controversies and Issues

Throughout its history, HM Prison Bristol has proven highly controversial. Severe overcrowding has been an intractable issue, with many cells holding more prisoners than intended.

Weak staffing and budget shortfalls exacerbate safety risks. Inmate-on-inmate assaults and self-harm incidents occur frequently. Drugs like Spice addict and destabilize the prisoner population leading to debt, violence, and psychiatric crises.

Inspectors have issued scathing reports about filthy conditions, lack of basic hygiene products, negligent medical care, rampant drug use, nonexistent rehabilitation, and an absence of meaningful activities. The prison environment often descends into chaos and crisis.

Notable Events

HM Prison Bristol has witnessed several infamous events over the decades. 14 executions took place up to 1963 via hanging. In 1986 and 1991, major riots caused extensive property damage.

In 1999, disgraced rock star Gary Glitter briefly served time there for child sex offenses. Other celebrity prisoners have included footballer Paddy Lacey and blogger Ben Gunn. Several daring escape attempts have unfolded, with some succeeding.

In 2013, revelations of endemic racism, squalor and staff mistreatment of inmates made national news. Further scandals have emerged regarding preventable deaths, record violence levels, and collapsing facilities.

Rehabilitation and Reentry

Rehabilitative programs at HM Prison Bristol remain underdeveloped compared to some facilities. Short staffing has led to long waitlists for education, vocational courses, therapy, and addiction treatment.

Most prisoners receive little preparation for successfully transitioning back to society upon release. However, some faith-based groups and charities offer mentoring to build life skills. A few inmates gain work experience in the kitchens and maintenance shops.

In summary, ageing HM Prison Bristol faces substantial modern challenges. As the inmate population has grown more volatile, the Victorian-era infrastructure has become outdated and insufficient. Staff shortages and budget constraints further exacerbate systemic dysfunction.

However, despite its problems this facility remains a vital component of the Southwest criminal justice system. Lasting reforms will require extensive modernization, expanded staff and programs, and a renewed focus on safety and humane treatment. The future remains uncertain for this troubled institution.

What is the capacity of HM Prison Bristol?

HM Prison Bristol has an operational capacity of around 640 adult male prisoners, both remand and convicted. The prison was originally built to hold far fewer inmates in Victorian times. Severe overcrowding has been an ongoing issue.

What types of inmates are held there?

HM Bristol houses adult males aged 18 and older. This includes young offenders ages 18-21, remand prisoners awaiting trial, short sentence prisoners, those convicted of violent crimes, and some lifers. Vulnerable inmates and sex offenders are segregated.

What are conditions like at the prison?

Inspectors have given highly critical reports about conditions at HM Bristol. Issues include overcrowding, poor hygiene/sanitation, prevalence of drugs/violence, lack of staff, inadequate healthcare, and minimal rehabilitation opportunities. Cells often house more inmates than intended.

Have there been any riots or notable events?

Yes, there have been major riots at HM Bristol in 1986 and 1991 resulting in significant damage. 14 executions by hanging took place there historically. Notable former inmates include Gary Glitter and footballer Paddy Lacey. Several daring escape attempts have also occurred.

Is any vocational or educational training offered?

Limited vocational workshops and classroom education exist due to short staffing and overcrowding. Some prisoners have maintenance and kitchen work duties. But rehabilitation programs are generally inadequate. Long waitlists exist for existing classes and therapy sessions.

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The Government has laid out plans to improve safety at HMP Bristol after a report by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) last month found 'serious failings' at the men's prison. New measures include increased budgets, refurbishment and new training for staff who work with vulnerable prisoners at risk of self-harm.

The report described HMP Bristol as ‘one of the most unsafe in the country’, with eight deaths reported in the last 10-months - seven of which were self-inflicted and one which is being investigated as a murder . Earlier this month, a prisoner left his wing and made it onto the roof of the prison , where he remained for two hours.

Inspectors found overcrowding, with almost half the men sharing a cell which was designed for one person and some in single cells had no internal sanitation. Inmates were found to spent up to 22 hours per day inside their cell and those who were surveyed by inspectors said that it was “easy” to get drugs.

Read more: Prisoner spends two hours on roof at HMP Bristol

His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor wrote and “urgent notification” letter to Justice Secretary Alex Chalk in which he said Bristol had levels of recorded violence higher than almost all other adult prisons. Since the Urgent Notification process was introduced in 2017, this was the second time the prison, located in Horfield , had been the subject of one, following an inspection in 2019.

The overhaul plan, revealed today (August 25) by Prisons Minister Damian Hinds aims at tackling these severe issues and improve safety, rehabilitation and performance at the prison. Mr Hinds said: "These inspection findings were unacceptable and we have taken immediate action to improve safety and performance at HMP Bristol.

"Additional experienced staff will be brought in to help reduce violence and improve safety, we’re carrying out urgent refurbishments and are increasing the number of healthcare staff to help the most vulnerable prisoners."

New measures introduced include:

• Support from expert teams within the Prison Service to provide extensive training to staff in order to drive the necessary improvements.
• New training for staff who work closely with the most vulnerable prisoners to ensure adequate support is in place for prisoners at risk of suicide and self-harm.
• Increased budgets to enable better access to education, skills and work to ensure prisoners have the appropriate time out of cell and best possible chance of turning their lives around.
• Refurbishments to areas of the prison, including shower and toilet upgrades and stairway flooring replacement.
• A new taskforce set up to learn and implement best practice from other prisons on reducing violence and self-harm rates.
• In response to staffing pressures, HMPPS will support the Governor and staff members to develop the vision for the prison and we will launch a local recruitment drive to drive up the numbers of prison officers in post.

Mr Hinds continued: "I am confident these actions will create the right conditions at HMP Bristol so officers can concentrate on rehabilitating prisoners to cut crime and better protect the public."

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Horfield Prison / HMP Bristol, Bristol, Gloucestershire

In 1875, construction began of a new gaol in Bristol to replace the city's existing New Gaol and Bridewell . It was located at Horfield, to the north of the city, and so became known as Horfield Prison. In 1877, with the impending nationalisation of the prison system, building work was suspended. It had resumed by 1882, when the nationalised system had come into operation under control of the Commissioners of Prisons. The prison seems to have come into use into 1883, although building work continued until 1889.

The architect was Alexander McHardy, who served as the government's Surveyor of Prisons from 1882 to 1886. Unlike the radial prison layouts popular in the 1840s-1860s, Horfield comprised a number of separate blocks at right angles to one another. The main gate of Cambridge Road led towards the large central block which contained administrative functions and, on the first floor, the chapel. A tower at the south-east corner of the building contained a clock transferred for the New Prison. Rising to four storeys at the rear of the central block was the male prisoners' wing.

The Prison Commissioners' report on the prison for 1883 noted:

Horfield prison, which has been built by free labour to take the place of this prison, has recently been occupied by 24 male prisoners, with a view to their completing the internal work. 137 cells for males and 23 for females are now completed, together with cook-house, baths, laundry, &c. The chaplain has performed the usual services on Sundays and read prayers daily.

A four-storey women's wing, at the north side of the central block, and at right angles to it, came into operation in 1885. The Commissioners' report for that year recorded:

This prison being still under construction, there is at present no means of carrying out hard labour of the 1st class, and prisoners in the first stage are for the most part employed in picking oakum.

About 9 prisoners are employed at mat-making, and the greater number of the remainder have been employed on the new buildings.

One female prisoner assaulted two of the female warders, and was admonished, on promise of amendment, by a member of the Visiting Committee, to whom the case was reported. During a subsequent sentence she set fire to several articles of apparel in her cell, but the act was soon discovered and the flames were extinguished before much damage had been done. For this offence she received seven days additional imprisonment.

The new female prison was occupied on 13th March this year, which will obviate the necessity of transferring to other prisons either males or females, which has recently had to be done on several occasions.

In 1887, the Commissioners' reported:

Hard labour of the 1st class has been carried out by means of cranks in the cells. 2nd class hard labour has consisted of mat-making, oakum picking, tailoring, shoemaking, and the necessary works in the prison, in addition to which a considerable number of prisoners have been employed on the new buildings.

The prisoners generally have been well conducted, the greater number of reports have been for minor offences, principally idleness at work.

The supplies from the contractors have been satisfactory.

Considerable progress has been made in the building department; the visiting room, committee room, and offices for the governor, chaplain, surgeon, and clerks have been completed and taken into occupation, the chapel is in an advanced state and will probably be ready for use in a few months. The new cook house is also progressing satisfactorily.

The usual Sunday and daily services have been performed by the chaplain, though at times the latter have had to be dispensed with during assizes, &c. Although the services are held in the corridor the chaplain reports that there has been very little misconduct, and that the prisoners join in them with readiness.

The prisoners entitled to receive instruction have been attended to by the schoolmaster and examined quarterly by the chaplain.

More progress was recorded in the 1888 report:

The chapel has been completed, and was taken into use in June. The kitchen is also now in occupation, and the bread is now baked in the prison. A new bath-room with seven baths has also been completed. An extension to both male and female wings is now in progress, also a van house and a house for the chief warder.

Two new blocks, known as B and C wings were added to the prison in the 1960s.

Bristol Prison from the east, 2022. (c) Microsoft.

The prison currently adult male prisoners and also acts as Young Offenders Institution for 18 to 21-year-olds. Inmates range from those on remand to local courts as well as convicted prisoners, including some sentenced to life imprisonment and indeterminate sentences for public protection.

Note: many repositories impose a closure period of up to 100 years for records identifying individuals. Before travelling a long distance, always check that the records you want to consult will be available.

• Bristol Record Office , 'B' Bond Warehouse (in the 'Create Centre' section from 3-Dec-2013), Smeaton Road, Bristol BS1 6XN. Holdings include: Nominal registers (1881-1912).
• The National Archives , Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 4DU. Has a wide variety of crime and prison records going back to the 1770s, including calendars of prisoners, prison registers and criminal registers.
• Find My Past has digitized many of the National Archives' prison records, including prisoner-of-war records, plus a variety of local records including Manchester, York and Plymouth . More information.

• The Genealogist also has a number of National Archives' prison records. More information.

Bibliography

• Higginbotham, Peter The Prison Cookbook: A History of the English Prison and its Food (2010, The History Press)
• Brodie, A. Behind Bars - The Hidden Architecture of England's Prisons (2000, English Heritage)
• Brodie, A., Croom, J. & Davies, J.O. English Prisons: An Architectural History (2002, English Heritage)
• Harding, C., Hines, B., Ireland, R., Rawlings, P. Imprisonment in England and Wales (1985, Croom Helm)
• McConville, Sean A History of English Prison Administration: Volume I 1750-1877 (1981, Routledge & Kegan Paul)
• Morris, N. and Rothman, D.G. (eds.) The Oxfod History of the Prison (1997, OUP)
• Pugh R.B. Imprisonment in Medieval England (1968, CUP)
• Prison Oracle - resources those involved in present-day UK prisons.
• GOV.UK - UK Government's information on sentencing, probation and support for families.

Bristol Prison

Tel: 0117 372 3100  –  19 Cambridge Road, Horfield, Bristol BS7 8PS

HMP Bristol is a category B prison which currently holds mainly adult male prisoners. In addition to this, there are a small number of young offenders. It is a local prison, which means it only holds convicted and remand inmates from local Courts; and most prisoners are only incarcerated for 12 months or less. It claims to support prisoners by preparing them for release; which includes helping with housing, debt and maintaining family contact. If you’re visiting HMP Bristol, please refer to the map on this page.

Tel: 0117 372 3100

Operational capacity: —

19 Cambridge Road, Horfield, Bristol BS7 8PS

The Prison Phone service has been helping to reduce the call costs from HMP Bristol since 2013.

If you have a Prison Phone account the inmate that you know will save 75% on their calls to your mobile from the Bristol prison payphones.

Send me Bristol prison details via FREE SMS

Mobile number:

Here’s some facts about Bristol Prison

Famous ex-inmates include Ben Gunn, the blogger and prison reform campaigner; and Gary Glitter.

There have been 14 executions at HMP Bristol. The most recent was in 1963 (Russell Pascoe).

A 2013 inspection found that a large number of inmates spent as long as 23 hours a day in their cells. This included unconvicted prisoners.

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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Jails around Wisconsin forgo in-person visits for video calls. How is this affecting those incarcerated?

HOBART – From her dining room table on an evening in February, Stacie Bryant logged onto her tablet to see her son for the first time in nearly four weeks.

Tyler Bryant, 23, is currently serving 90 days at Oconto County Jail for violating his probation.

Holding Tyler's 15-month-old son, Milo, Stacie Bryant gave her son a smile and asked how he was doing. Tyler filled her in on his schedule, recent happenings and when he would get clippers to shave his facial hair.

"I missed seeing him," Stacie Bryant said after the video call. "He was coming over here almost every day."

Virtual visitation, for many families of people in jail, is a helpful tool for its flexibility and accessibility. But as it is becoming commonplace, more and more jails in Wisconsin are making video visits the only option, entirely eliminating traditional in-person visits.

The Post-Crescent contacted every jail in the state to gather information about their visitation policies. An analysis of the data found 46 out of the state's 72 jails — about 64% — have no option for people to do visits with friends and family in person, instead only offering contact through a video screen. And more jail administrators plan to follow this trend, with many stating that the pandemic expedited their decision to go all-virtual.

While video visitation has its benefits, formerly incarcerated people, experts and people who have visited friends and family in jail say the inability to be within physical proximity of loved ones takes a toll on mental health.

The American Bar Association's standards state that video visitation should not be a replacement for in-person visits with people confined for more than 30 days — around the average length of stay in a county jail.

But depending on court proceedings, people can be held in jail for years. In Brown County Jail, the longest stay of a recent prisoner was close to seven years — from May 2016 to February 2023, according to Brown County Jail Administrator Heidi Michel.

And unlike in prisons, most people in jail are there for a crime for which they have not been convicted.

Jennifer Verderami, a housing advocate with ESTHER , an interfaith social justice organization that is the Fox Valley affiliate of WISDOM , said it's more challenging to assess the emotions of a person through a video screen than when sitting across from them — even through a glass partition.

Her first experience with video visits was when the pandemic struck while she was incarcerated at Robert E. Ellsworth Correctional Center, a minimum-security women's prison in Racine County.

“There's a different quality even when there's a partition separating you, knowing there's only inches between you and your loved one," she said.

Video visits lack physical support, formerly incarcerated people say

Visitation is extremely important for the mental health of people who are incarcerated, particularly those serving lengthy sentences. According to the DOC's website , "research shows maintaining strong family ties can have a positive impact on an offender's success in completing treatment and other programs during incarceration, as well as their chances for success after they are released."

In-person contact visitation, where incarcerated people are allowed to talk to, play games with and hug their loved ones is offered in most of Wisconsin's prisons. But in county jails, where state statutes include fewer guidelines for how visitation should take place, non-contact visits are the norm, either behind a glass partition or by video.

Still, people who have been on both ends say there is a difference between a visit through a glass divider and a visit through a computer screen.

"You can sense the proximity. On a video screen, that does not exist," said Roy Rogers, who was incarcerated for 28 years until his parole in 2021.

Since his release, Rogers has become an advocate for jail and prison reform, working as a pre-entry liaison for The Community and serving on the board of directors for the Wisconsin Justice Initiative .

"With the divider behind a window thing, at least you can see the full human expression — you know, the nuances of emotion that you cannot catch through a video visit," he said.

Wanda Bertram, a communication strategist at the Prison Policy Initiative , a national nonprofit criminal justice think tank, said it's also harder for loved ones to assess the health and well-being of a prisoner through a video screen, as opposed to sitting a few feet away.

"Families have found that this really diminishes the quality of connection that they're able to get," she said.

A spokesperson for the company that owns Securus Technologies , the video visitation system used at Brown County Jail and a dozen other Wisconsin jails, said the video service "acts as a supplement for in person-visits" but is not intended to replace them.

Despite this, most jails in Wisconsin that have eliminated in-person visiting options have no plans to bring that option back, various county jail administrators said.

Meanwhile, some jails around the country have entirely eliminated the infrastructure needed for in-person jail visits after adding video visits. In Brown County, for example, Michel said the jail switched to all-virtual visits because there were no in-person visitation booths included in a jail renovation project.

Video visits can be expensive and low quality

Wisconsin jails offer video visits free to people who use the jail's on-site video kiosks. But those who choose to visit through a remote device are charged a fee.

Prices differ based on what company the jail contracts with. For example, remote visits with jails that use Securus range from $5.95 to $12.95 for a 20-minute remote visit, according to the spokesperson for Aventiv, the parent company of Securus. In Brown County Jail, visits are on the lowest end of that price range. Other telecommunications companies charge by the minute. In Outagamie County Jail, which uses ViaPath Technologies , a remote video visit costs 25 cents a minute.

Tyler Bryant served time at both Brown County Jail and Oconto County Jail. The Bryants said the two jails' visitation services were a night-and-day difference.

The first time Tyler's girlfriend used Brown County Jail's free on-site video kiosks to visit Tyler, she had issues logging on and could not find anyone around to help her.

When she came back to try again another day, she was able to get the video to work, but the quality on both ends was poor, Tyler Bryant said.

"That sucks. You can't even see the background — like, it's all pixelated," he said. "They completely blur everything out, unless you're two inches away, and then you can see like half of the face."

That was with Securus. Video visits at Oconto County Jail, which uses the company CIDNET , were much clearer, Stacie Bryant said.

Securus and CIDNET are the two most widely utilized video visitation systems in Wisconsin's jails. A handful of others systems are also common, including ViaPath, the system in place at Outagamie County Jail.

Autumn Cross, a Combined Locks resident who visited a friend in Outagamie County Jail about once a week for three months before he went to prison, said the remote video calls she did often had blurry video, delayed audio and unreliable connection.

"Video visits always have a lot of the connection issues where you can't hear them, or they can't hear you," Cross said. "It's not always guaranteed that you're going to have your video visit, because you can get disconnected and then sometimes you're not able to call back."

For Verderami, who served nearly five years in prison before her release last year, video visitation was free, due to the pandemic. But the visits were emotionally challenging, particularly those with her teenage son or her grandchildren.

"It actually got to the point where I didn't want to even do the video visits anymore because it made me so sad," she said.

Verderami said if video visits were not free and her only access to video visits was by paying, she would not have had any visits during that time.

Proponents say virtual jail visitation offers flexibility and savings for families

Many jails that only offer virtual visitation point to its benefits, like the flexibility to visit from home and increased opportunities for visits.

Outagamie County Jail switched to virtual visitation in 2020 and never went back. Jail Administrator Dave Kiesner said the jail had already been planning to transition to video visits only, but the pandemic expedited that process.

People in jail "have much more ability to see and talk to people now with this new system than they've had before," Kiesner said. "When we had in-house visits, it was just twice a week. ... It was like on a Tuesday at 10 o'clock and maybe a Saturday at 4 o'clock, and that was only time you could come visit. Now you can set up for whatever works for you at home."

Many county jails in the state also say video visits reduce the risk of contraband getting into the jail. However, it's not clear if there is data to back this up. Kiesner said Outagamie County Jail does not track contraband incidents specifically tied to visitation.

Michel, the administrator at Brown County Jail, said video visitation is beneficial for people who live too far to regularly visit with loved ones. By paying $7.50 for a 20-minute visit from home, they can save money on gas and time.

But for about a quarter of Wisconsin's jails, it doesn't need to be one or the other.

Lt. Brad McCoy of the Waushara County Sheriff's Office said that when Waushara County Jail added a video visit option in 2023, it did not eliminate its in-person option. McCoy said he does not think a video call has the same impact on a prisoner's mental health as actually seeing a loved one in-person — even behind a glass partition.

"I still see benefits in having in-person visits," he said.

And 16 other Wisconsin jails, including Madison's Dane County Jail, offer both types of visitation.

"We still like to do the in-person, because it’s in-person. It’s different than looking through a camera at someone," said Lt. Gary Vandivier of the Dane County Sheriff's Office.

Jails sometimes have incentives to eliminate in-person visiting options

The Prison Policy Initiative has published multiple studies about telecommunications-related issues in jails and prisons across the country. Betram said their research found that jails have financial motivations to eliminate in-person visitation.

For one, video visitation requires fewer staff members to supervise, a major benefit for jails with a shortage of staff.

Additionally, Bertram said that in many contracts between video providers and jails, the county receives either a lump sum payment or a percentage of the total revenue from video calls.

Both Brown County Jail and Outagamie County Jail receive a commission from telecommunications services. However, Michel said that in Brown County, none of the profit made off of video visitation goes to the county; it goes into an "inmate welfare account," which is used to fund items and programs for people in jail, like new mattresses or the county's canteen ministry program.

"This is not a product that jails and prisons have necessarily gone hunting for. It's something that the companies, which tend to already have relationships with jails and prisons by providing phone calls or other services like that, will advertise pretty aggressively," Bertram said.

Bertram said some of these contracts have in the past stipulated that county jails must eliminate or restrict the in-person visiting option. She said she has seen those stipulations less often in recent years. Neither Brown County Jail's nor Outagamie County Jail's most recent contracts give requirements for jails on in-person visits.

According to a 2015 report from the Prison Policy Initiative , Securus was the only company of those studied that explicitly required jails to stop offering an in-person visitation option. But the spokesperson for Aventiv, the parent company of Securus, told the Post-Crescent that Securus "never impose(s) any prohibition on in-person visits."

No other telecommunications companies in Wisconsin jails — including ViaPath, CIDNET, ICSolutions , Reliance Telephone or Turnkey Corrections — responded to questions about their contracts' visitation guidelines.

The transition to video visits as the norm is a fairly recent shift in Wisconsin; most county jails began implementing the new technology just in the last few years. Four in the state, however — including Milwaukee County Jail — stopped video visit services as early as 2003 and 2004.

Rogers said he believes the transition to video visitation in jails is another step of what he sees as decreasing outside contact in Wisconsin's jails and prisons in recent years.

As another example, he pointed to the Department of Correction's switch in 2021 to providing people in prison with photocopies of mail rather than the original papers — a move intended to decrease drugs sneaking into prisons.

"The smell and the scent of the envelope to come from moms or a girlfriend, they'll never be able to smell that anymore, you know? Just to see, your kid drew this picture, and you know, it's smelling like jelly, or those Jolly Ranchers that he likes, you know, and some of that got on the envelope or the letter. You'll never be able to experience that again in Wisconsin (prisons)," he said.

For people in jails and prisons, Rogers said, any connection to their support system is essential for rehabilitation and a future reintegration into society. He said he worries about a total shift to video visits in jails.

"When you're in a county jail, for the most part, if you turn out to not be found innocent of what you've been held for, the last memory you will have of touching and holding your loved one will be that moment before you were arrested," he said. "And, like, even though you're sitting in that county jail and you're innocent until you're proven guilty, you've already been deprived of your human relationship, and you have not been convicted of a crime."

Green Bay Press-Gazette reporter Danielle DuClos contributed to this report.

Kelli Arseneau can be reached at 920-213-3721 or  [email protected] . Follow her on X at  @ArseneauKelli .

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A court in the moscow region sentenced 3.5 years in prison to two defendants in the case of attacking and scalping a punk in elektrostal.

The Elektrostal City Court of the Moscow Region sentenced Zafar Razokov and Ilya Taigunshoev to three and a half years in prison in the case of assault and scalping of a young man. This was reported by the press service of the courts of the Moscow region.

The men were found guilty of hooliganism (Part 2 of Article 213 of the Criminal Code) and causing harm to health of moderate severity (points “d”, “e” and “h” of Part 2 of Article 112 of the Criminal Code). They must also pay the victim 750 thousand rubles in compensation.

In July, Razokov and Taigunshoev attacked 19-year-old Elektrostal resident Yuri Markov. According to the victim, he approached “two people of non-Russian appearance” and asked them for a cigarette. They didn't like his green mohawk.

“At the end of this conversation they began to cut off my hair along with part of my scalp. Then they threatened a little,” Markov told the authors of the Mash telegram channel.

Razokov and Taigunshoev were detained and arrested a few days after the attack. During the first court hearing on the merits of the case, as TASS reported, the men admitted their guilt. They explained their actions by saying they were drunk.

California women's prison where inmates have been subjected to sex abuse will close

LOS ANGELES — The beleaguered federal Bureau of Prisons said Monday it will close a women’s prison in California  known as the “rape club”  despite attempts to reform the troubled facility after an Associated Press investigation exposed rampant staff-on-inmate sexual abuse.

Bureau of Prisons Director Colette Peters said in a statement to the AP that the agency had “taken unprecedented steps and provided a tremendous amount of resources to address culture, recruitment and retention, aging infrastructure and — most critical — employee misconduct.”

“Despite these steps and resources, we have determined that FCI Dublin is not meeting expected standards and that the best course of action is to close the facility,” Peters said. “This decision is being made after ongoing evaluation of the effectiveness of those unprecedented steps and additional resources.”

The announcement of Dublin’s closure represents an extraordinary acknowledgement by the Bureau of Prisons that its much-promised efforts to improve the culture and environment there have not worked. Many attempts to stem the problems at Dublin have come after the AP investigation revealed a pattern of abuse and mismanagement that crossed years, even decades.

Just 10 days before the closure announcement, a federal judge took the unprecedented step of appointing a special master to oversee the prison.

Advocates want prisoners freed

FCI Dublin, about 21 miles east of Oakland, is one of six women-only federal prisons and the only one west of the Rocky Mountains. It currently houses 605 inmates — 504 inmates in its main prison and another 101 at an adjacent minimum-security camp. That figure is down from a total of 760 prisoners in February 2022.

The women currently housed at the prison will be transferred to other facilities, Peters said, and no employees will lose their jobs.

Advocates have called for inmates to be freed from FCI Dublin, which they say is not only plagued by sexual abuse but also has hazardous mold, asbestos and inadequate health care.

Last August, eight FCI Dublin inmates sued the Bureau of Prisons, or BOP, alleging the agency had failed to root out sexual abuse. Amaris Montes, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, had said inmates continued to face retaliation for reporting abuse, including being put in solitary confinement and having belongings confiscated.

Montes said she and her clients had suspected closure might be a possibility, but the suddenness of the decision so quickly after the special master appointment came as a shock. “It’s a signal that the prison knows that they are not meeting constitutional standards to keep people safe from sexual assault and sexual harassment,” Montes said Monday.

Montes said timing on the closure and transfer of inmates was still being worked out, but she hoped it would be done in a measured way.

“I think that the BOP is quick to try to transfer accountability and move accountability elsewhere as the way to remedy the issue. And that would mean, you know, moving people quickly without addressing people’s needs right now.” Many of the incarcerated women have physical and mental health issues that need to be dealt with, she said, while other inmates might be considered for release.

A former Dublin inmate who is a whistleblower in the civil lawsuit said Monday that the abruptly announced closure “just feels wrong” because it undermines the long process of getting justice for the women who endured abuse and appalling conditions.

“We’ve worked so hard to get a special master in there to clean house, so to speak,” said the woman, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of her status as a whistleblower in an ongoing lawsuit. The AP doesn’t name victims of sexual abuse without their consent. “And pretty much the minute after that happened, they say they’re just going to close it down.”

She said it would be inhumane to transfer hundreds of inmates to prisons across the country, away from their families. “What the women have gone through at this facility, the abuse they suffered, that was punishment,” she said. “They’re all low security. Send them home, send them to supervised relief. Let them be productive members of society.”

On Monday, two buses moved around the parking lot of FCI Dublin. Prison staff moved baggage and carts of supplies between the buildings and buses. An AP reporter did not see any inmates leaving the facility.

A history of abuse allegations — and convictions

Last month, the FBI again searched the prison and the Bureau of Prisons again shook up its leadership after a warden sent to help rehabilitate the facility was accused of retaliating against a whistleblower inmate. Days later, a federal judge overseeing lawsuits against the prison, said she would appoint a special master to oversee the facility’s operations.

An AP investigation in 2021 found a culture of abuse and cover-ups that had persisted for years at the prison. That reporting led to increased scrutiny from Congress and pledges from the Bureau of Prisons that it would fix problems and change the culture at the prison.

Since 2021, at least eight FCI Dublin employees have been charged with sexually abusing inmates. Five have pleaded guilty. Two were convicted at trial, including the former warden, Ray Garcia. Another case is pending.

All sexual activity between a prison worker and an inmate is illegal. Correctional employees have substantial power over inmates, controlling every aspect of their lives from mealtime to lights out, and there is no scenario in which an inmate can give consent.

Inmate advocates worry that some of the safety concerns at FCI Dublin could persist at the other women’s prisons. “The problem isn’t solved by shipping these girls to new facilities,” said another former Dublin inmate and whistleblower who spoke on condition of anonymity. “These facilities still have the same issues.”

Montes said the civil litigation will continue despite the imminent closure.

“The BOP is the defendant in the case. It’s not FCI Dublin,” she said. “And so we are in the mindset that this did not end our case — that they still have a responsibility to our clients to keep them safe.”

The Associated Press

Norilsk: The city built by gulag prisoners where Russia guards its Arctic secrets

Environmental activists are frustrated by how authorities handled a diesel spill which poured into two Arctic rivers in late May.

International correspondent @DiMagnaySky

Friday 3 July 2020 23:41, UK

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The drive from Norilsk airport to the city takes you past mile after mile of crumbling, Soviet-era factories.

It looks like an endless, rusting scrapyard - a jumble of pipes, industrial junk and frost-bitten brickwork. If you were looking for an industrial apocalypse film setting, this would be your place - but you're unlikely to get the permissions.

Norilsk was built in Stalin's times by gulag prisoners. This gritty industrial city is a testament to their endurance both of the cruelty of Stalin's regime and of the harsh polar climate. There were no thoughts then on how to build to protect the environment, just to survive it.

Vasily Ryabinin doesn't think much has changed, at least in ecological terms. He used to work for the local branch of the federal environmental watchdog, Rosprirodnadzor, but quit in June after exposing what he says was a failure to investigate properly the environmental impact of the gigantic diesel spill which poured into two Arctic rivers in late May.

At 21,000 tonnes, it was the largest industrial spill in the polar Arctic .

Despite the Kremlin declaring a federal emergency and sending a host of different agencies to participate in the clean-up, just last week Mr Ryabinin and activists from Greenpeace Russia found another area where technical water used in industrial processes was being pumped directly into the tundra from a nearby tailing pond. Russia's investigative committee has promised to investigate.

"The ecological situation here is so bad," Mr Ryabinin says.

"The latest constructions such as the tailing pond at the Talnack ore-processing plant were built exclusively by Nornickel chief executive Vladimir Potanin's team and supposedly in accordance with ecological standards, but on satellite images you can see that all the lakes in the vicinity have unnatural colours and obviously something has got into them."

Mining company Nornickel would disagree. It has admitted flagrant violations at the tailing pond and suspended staff it deems responsible at both the Talnack plant and at Norilsk Heat and Power plant no 3 where the diesel spill originated from.

On Thursday it appointed Andrey Bougrov, from its senior management board, to the newly-created role of senior vice president for environmental protection. It has a clear environmental strategy, provides regular updates on the status of the spill, and its Twitter feed is filled with climate-related alerts.

But what investors read is very different to the picture on the ground.

Norilsk used to be a closed city - one of dozens across the Soviet Union shut off to protect industrial secrets. Foreigners need special permissions approved by the Federal Security Service (FSB) to enter the region. It would take an invitation from Nornickel to make that happen and, for the past month since the spill, that has not been forthcoming.

Unlike in Soviet times, Russian citizens are now free to come and go. That's why our Sky News Moscow team were able to fly in and travel around the city, even if getting to the spill site was blocked. What they were able to film provides a snapshot of the immense challenge Russia faces in upgrading its Soviet-era industrial infrastructure, particularly at a time when climate change is melting the permafrost on which much of it was built.

Just downwind from one of the rusting factories on the city outskirts is a huge expanse of dead land. The skeletal remains of trees stand forlorn against the howling Arctic winds. Sulphur dioxide poisoning has snuffed the life out of all that lived here. Norilsk is the world's worst emitter of sulphur dioxide by a substantial margin.

"For 80km south of here everything is dead," Mr Ryabinin says, "and for at least 10km in that direction too. Everything here depends on the wind."

Immediately after the spill, Mr Ryabinin filmed and took samples from the Daldykan river just a few kilometres from the fuel tank which had leaked. By that point the river was a churning mix of diesel and red sludge dredged up from the riverbed by the force of the leak. Norilsk's rivers have turned red before and the chemical residues have sunk to the bottom, killing all life there. Nothing has lived in those rivers for decades.

In his capacity as deputy head of the local environmental watchdog, Mr Ryabinin says he insisted that he be allowed to fly further north to check the levels of contamination in Lake Pyasino and beyond.

Nornickel at the time claimed the lake was untouched by the spill. Mr Ryabinin says his boss encouraged him to let things be.

"I can't be sure I would have found anything, but this sort of confrontation - making sure I didn't go there with a camera, let alone with bottles for taking samples, it was all very clear to me. It was the final straw."

Rosprirodnadzor refused to comment to Sky News on Mr Ryabinin's allegations or suggestions that the agency was working hand in hand with Nornickel.

Georgy Kavanosyan is an environmental blogger with a healthy 37,000 following on YouTube. Shortly after the spill, he set out for Lake Pyasino and to the Pyasina River beyond to see how far the diesel had spread.

"We set out at night so that the Norilsk Nickel security wouldn't detect us. I say at night, but they've got polar nights there now, north of the Arctic Circle. So it's still light but it's quieter and we managed to go past all the cordons."

He is one of the few to have provided evidence that the diesel has in fact travelled far beyond where the company admits. Not just the 1,200km (745m) length of Lake Pyasino but into the river beyond.

He says his measurements indicated a volume of hydrocarbons dissolved in the water of between two and three times normal levels. He thinks after he published his findings on YouTube, the authorities' vigilance increased.

Greenpeace Russia have spent the last two weeks trying to obtain samples from Lake Pyasino and the surrounding area. They have faced difficulties getting around and flying their samples out for independent analysis.

They are now waiting for results from a laboratory in St Petersburg but say the samples remain valid technically for just four days after collection and that they weren't able to make that deadline due to the authorities' actively obstructing their work.

Elena Sakirko from Greenpeace Russia specialises in oil spills and says this has happened to her before. This time, a police helicopter flew to the hunter's hut where they were staying and confiscated the fuel for the boat they were using. Then a deputy for the Moscow city parliament tasked with bringing the samples back from Norilsk was forced to go back empty-handed.

"We were told at the airport we needed permission from the security department of Nornickel," Ms Sakirko says. "We asked them to show us some law or statement to prove that this was legal or what the basis for this was, but they haven't showed us anything and we still don't understand it."

Nornickel announced this week that the critical stage of the diesel spill is over. The company is now finalising dates for a press tour for foreign media and for other international environmentalists.

Mr Ryabinin thinks this should have happened weeks ago.

"If we don't let scientists come to the Arctic region to evaluate the impact of the accident, then in the future if anything similar happens, we won't know what to do."

A spokesperson for Nornickel said the company "is actively cooperating with the scientific community and will meticulously assess both the causes and effects of the accident."

Nornickel considers permafrost thawing to be the primary cause of the accident, but is waiting for the end of investigation before making a final statement, the spokesperson said.

They added that the company "accepts full responsibility for the incidents on its sites these past two months and holds itself accountable for any infrastructural deficits or poor decisions by personnel.

"The imperative is to do everything to clean up our sites, instil a stronger culture of transparency and safety in our workforce, and ensure that such situations do not occur in the future."