AllAnyauthorisedelectronicequipment suchaslaptops,must have a visible factory printed serial number for toentry. bePlease allowedquery entry.anyissueswiththebookingteam
The prison is opposite Lincoln County Hospital. The closest railway station is Lincoln Central. The prison is a 20 minute walk from the train and bus station.
There areis limitedPay spacesand inDisplay theparking payto andthe displayright carof park near the prison for family and friendsalso visiting.at Therethe areback. also limited Blue Badge holderparking spacesis directlyat inthe front ofand theshould prisonbe gate.requestedwhenbookingavisit.
For your first visit, please arrive from 12:20pm and look out for the ‘purple people’ so that you can have an induction prior to booking in (from 1:30pm).
All visitors will need to be given a pat-down search, including children. You may also be sniffed by security dogs.
There are strict controls on what you can take into Lincoln Prison. You will be provided with a locker key when you book in. Please be aware that there is only limited space for belongings available. Pushchairs and car seats can be left with security.
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.
Visitors Dress Code
Visitors to HMP Lincoln must be dressed appropriately at all times, reflectingwhichwillreflectinour aim to create a family atmosphere as part of the Reducing ReoffendingRe-offendingand Decency agenda. This instruction applies to all visitors to the establishment regardless of age and gender.
At HMP Lincoln it is considered to be inappropriate to wear the following types of clothing:
short/croppedShort/cropped tops that reveal naked midriffmidriff.
lowLow cut tops or shirts that unbutton to reveal cleavage or bare chestchest.
vestsVests (as a single garment)
mini-skirtsMini-skirts that are shorter than knee length and expose thighsthighs.
shortsShorts that are shorter than knee length and expose thighsthighs.
allAll types of see-through clothingclothing.
headwearHeadwear (other than for religious purposes)purposes).
clothingClothing that is offensive in nature or displays offensive discriminatory, or inappropriate materialmaterial.
rippedRipped clothing
noNo cloaks, capes, scarves, jackets, coats, hoodies or gloves or other articles that could prevent staff from observing visitors or prisoners in the visits hall
These items need to be removed before entering visits hall.
Any visitor that does not comply with this dress code will not be permitted entry to HMP Lincoln at the discretion of the visits staff.
This notice will be displayed in the visitors centre and available as an annexAnnex to the visits policy.
Visitors must leave all property in their vehicle or the visitorsVisitors centreCentre with the exception of the articles listed below:
card
Card (onlyonly for purchasing refreshments)refreshments
medication
Medication (to be held by visits staff for emergency use only)
babies
Babies dummies
baby’s
Baby’s bottle with dry, powdered milk (water to be supplied by refreshments team) and an unopened jar of baby food (not glass)glass).
locker
Locker keyKey
In the case of legalLegal advisorsAdvisors or other professional visitors, documents, and briefcases, containing documents needed for the visit.
No recording equipment may be taken into the visit room without express permission from the Head of Security.
Visiting facilities
Lincoln Prison has a tuck shop where you can purchase food and drink during weekend visits, or you can order food from ‘On a Roll’ prior to your visit which will be delivered to the prison. Please order your food from this website
There is also a facility in the visitsVisits centreCentre for a sit-down meal in the training restaurant ‘Berties’ on weekdays only. Enhanced prisoners can apply for this. All payments for this service are card only.
Counter service is also available for all visitors.
The children’s play area is available for use.
Family days
We offer family visits once per month, these are extended visits often with a specific focus and are applied for internally by prisoners.
For more information regarding family visits, please call the visits booking line or Lincolnshire Action Trust for more information.
Keep in touch with someone at Lincoln Prison
There are several ways you can keep in touch with a prisoner during their time at Lincoln.
Secure video calls
To have a secure video call with someone in this prison you need to:
Please note that a prisoners’ call list and visitors list are different. You will need to be added to both in order to receive calls and visit a prisoner.
Phone calls
Prisoners do not yet have phones in their cells 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 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
Prisoners are given a list of items they can have in prison, known as the ‘facilities list’.
Convicted prisoners can not have any items posted or handed in and must save their money and buy them from the approved catalogue.
Un-convicted men on remand can have clothes handed in or posted, but in limited amounts. Make sure to include the person’s name and prisoner number on the parcel.
Family and friends 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 Prisonthe educationHMPPS andIncentives libraryPolicy, services, Annex AF.
All parcels will be opened and checked by officers. Contact Lincoln Prison for more information on what’s allowed.
Life at Lincoln Prison
Lincoln Prison is committed to providing a safe and educational environment where men can learn new skills to help them on release, including workshops, education and vocational courses.
Security and safeguarding
Every prisoner at Lincoln Prison has a right to feel safe. The staff are responsible for their safeguarding and welfare at all times.
There is a Listeners’ Scheme, prison mentors and peer support schemes to aid well-being.
There is addiction counselling available.
Charity workshops are available and many community links, for example, volunteers who help with family visits.
Arrival and first night
When a prisoner first arrives at Lincoln Prison, 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.
They will get to speak to someone who will check how they’re feeling and ask about any immediate health and wellbeing needs.
Induction
Each prisoner who arrives at Lincoln Prison gets an induction that lasts about a week. They will meet professionals and peers (known as ‘Insiders’) 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
Every prisoner is allocated a key worker officer who meets them weekly to monitor progress and discuss any problems. Prisoners also find out about the rules, fire safety, and how things like calls and visits work.
Accommodation
Around 650 prisoners live in Lincoln Prison across 4 main residential wings. A, B and C wings hold a mix of prisoners while E wing holds any prisoners who are considered vulnerable.
All wings have access to showers, telephones, toasters and recreational activities, such as pool and table tennis.
Education and work
Lincoln offers a wide range of education, including English and maths, and also vocational courses in painting and decorating and bricklaying.
There are tailoring workshops, a laundry and a recycling centre where prisoners can earn recognised qualifications.
Temporary release
There is no release on temporary licence (ROTL) at Lincoln.
Organisations Lincoln Prison works with
Lincoln works with the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), Shelter and Lincolnshire Action Trust which offer varied resettlement support. Support is offered with employment, accommodation, mental and physical health and drug support services in the community.
Support at Lincoln Prison
Further information and support provided by Lincolnshire Action Trust for children and families of a person in prison.
Telephone: 01522 663 355
Concerns, problems and complaints
In an emergency
Call 01522 663 000 if you think a prisoner is at immediate risk of harm. Ask for the Orderly Officer and explain that your concern is an emergency.
Contact category
Phone number
Additional information
Non-emergency
01522 663287
Call this number if you have concerns about a prisoner’s safety or wellbeing which are serious but not life-threatening or complete a safer custody contact form on the Prisoners’ Families Helpline website.
Staff Integrity Hotline
0800 917 6877 (24 hours answering machine)
This number can be called anonymously. If you are concerned about a prisoner being bullied by a member of staff, you can use this number. As this line is managed separately from the prison, you can call this number anonymously.
Updated visiting guidance based on 1 April COVID rule changes
18 March 2022
Added link to new safer custody information under Security and safeguarding.
14 January 2022
Updated visiting information: Reduced visit schedule and testing for visitors aged 12 and over.
10 January 2022
Updated visiting information: Testing for visitors aged 12 and over.
13 August 2021
Added link to information about testing for physical contact at visits.
14 May 2021
New visiting times and booking information added.
11 May 2021
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.
21 December 2020
visit info
4 December 2020
Updated visit info
2 December 2020
Updated visit info
2 December 2020
Updated visit info
6 November 2020
Updated visiting information in line with new national restrictions in England.
3 September 2020
Updated visiting information in line with coronavirus restrictions.
11 August 2020
Updated visiting information in line with coronavirus restrictions.