How To Email A Prisoner In The UK 

Staying in contact with our loved ones when they are in prison can seem impossible. Naturally, communication is very limited – inmates are not allowed to use social media platforms or mobile phones, and visitation privileges are limited, too. 

However, did you know you can email people in UK prisons? While they may not have wholesale access to an internet connection, they can still pick up communications as long as the prison in question oversees them. 

It is a quick and painless way to stay in contact with your loved ones – to help keep their morale up and allow them to keep a firm connection to the outside world. 

With that in mind, let’s look at how you can email a prisoner in the UK. 

How can I email a prisoner in the UK? 

Currently, the only way to email a prisoner in the UK is by using a legal, government-recognised service known as ‘Email a Prisoner’. 

You can use the service by downloading the ‘eMates’ app from your phone’s app store. Once downloaded, you will need to sign up for an ‘Email A Prisoner’ account within the app. You can then use that account to communicate with your loved one in prison. Simple!

How will a prisoner see my email? 

Your email will dispatch directly to the prison in which your loved one is currently serving their sentence. The prison will then print the email and deliver it straight to the recipient, allowing them to take the time to read it. 

This includes the email itself and any attachments that you might have sent along with it. It’s a secure way to ensure prisoners can still read mail from people who care about them.

Can a prisoner respond to my email? 

Yes, prisoners can respond to your emails – when given your email on printed paper, they are also provided with their own sheet upon which they can write a response. 

Then, once their return message is complete, the prison retrieves the sheet of paper and scans it directly onto their system to send it to you. 

How much does it cost to send an email to a prisoner in the UK? 

You do have to pay a small fee for sending an email to a prisoner in the UK. The current price of sending an email is 40p per email. And, if you request a reply from the receiver, you will be charged an extra 25p. 

It is also worth noting that any attachments sent with the email (such as photos, for example) will cost an additional 30p per go. 

And, sadly, not all prisons allow senders to send attachments. You will need to check the specific policies of the establishment in question before sending anything across.

Why email a prisoner in the UK? 

Prisoners who are missing their families will often want to reach out to loved ones via written letters. However, letters can take a long time to head back and forth, especially after security checks. 

This can lead to a break in communication, and what’s more, it can have a huge impact on prisoners’ mental health – as well as your own!

Emails are quick, easy, and cost-effective to send and receive. And, of course, as is the case with all emails, you can write and send them whenever and from wherever you are. 

This makes it far easier to stay in contact, especially if you have to travel around the country, abroad, or simply do not have the time to visit or sit down and write a letter! 

Before You Go…

Did you know that you can send more than just emails to a prisoner in the UK? You can also send money to help loved ones out. If you’re interested in learning more about that, please read my article on sending money to a prisoner.

Frequently asked questions