What are Prison Visitors' Centres?

Prison Visitors’ Centres are independent services provided by non-statutory, not-for-profit organisations independent of the prison they work alongside.

They achieve positive outcomes for prisoners’ families and friends and for prisoners themselves by fulfilling three core functions:

  1. They improve the visits experience for people visiting their family member or loved ones in prison;
  2. They allow families to access independent and impartial advice, information and support, which meets their needs;
  3. They voice the needs of families affected by imprisonment to the prison they work alongside. 

Where are the Prison Visitors' Centres?

There are 11 Prison Visitors' Centres and three Visitor Support Services, based in the areas below. Further information on each Centre is available on individual prison pages. 

A map of prison visitors centres, at Inverness, Grampian, Perth, Glenochil, Polmont, Edinburgh, Addiewell, Dumfries, Kilmarnock, Barlinnie, Shotts, Greenock, Low Moss and Stirling.