NCJ Number
129121
Date Published
1987
Length
65 pages
Annotation
These guidelines are designed to help members of prison boards of visitors understand their role and effectively conduct their work as independent observers of the life and work of adult prisons and juvenile correctional facilities in England and Wales.
Abstract
A board of visitors acts as an independent observer on behalf of the Home Secretary who appoints it and to whom it is responsible. Board members must have a sensitive understanding of the approach of prison management, the attitudes of the staff, and the problems of the inmates. The guidelines explain the appointment, meetings, visits, other activities, and term of office of a board of visitors. It also outlines their statutory authority and explains 10 tasks that new board members should complete to gain an understanding of their responsibilities and to practice the formal procedures associated with their duties. Description of British prison system and its administration and glossary of official and slang terms.