Guidance

Lincoln Prison

Lincoln is a prison and young offender institution (YOI) in the East Midlands, for men aged 18 and over.

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Book and plan your visit to Lincoln Prison

To visit someone in Lincoln Prison you must:

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

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

There may be a limit to the number of visits a prisoner can have. You can check this with Lincoln prison using the email, lincolnvisitsbooking@justice.gov.uk

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 Lincoln
  • somewhere to stay overnight
  • meals

How to book family and friends visits

Lincoln is running a limited visits schedule. Visits are also running differently than normal, observing strict guidelines, which must be followed.

You can book your visit online.

You can book your visit by telephone.

Booking line: 01522 663 172
The booking line is open Monday to Friday: 9:30am to midday
Find out about call charges

Visiting times:

  • Tuesday 2pm to 4pm
  • Thursday 2pm to 4pm
  • Saturday 9am to 11am and 2pm to 4pm
  • Sunday 9am to 11am and 2pm to 4pm

Face to face legal and professional visit times:

  • Tuesdays and Thursdays: 9am to 11:30am

They can be booked via LincolnVisitsBooking@justice.gov.uk

Or via the Visits Booking line 01522 663172

  • Monday to Friday: 9:30am to 12pm except Bank Holidays

Social Visitors for Remand and Convicted prisoners can book online at www.gov.uk/prison-visits

Getting to Lincoln Prison

Find Lincoln Prison on a map

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.

To plan your journey by public transport:

There is Pay and Display parking to the right of the prison and also at the back. Blue Badge parking is at the front and should be requested when booking a visit.

Entering Lincoln Prison

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

For your 1st visit, please arrive from 12:20 and look out for the ‘purple people’ so that you can have an induction prior to booking in (from 13:30).

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

Refreshments are available in the form of a tuck shop including tea and coffee on site.

Please see online link for further refreshment options below.

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, which will reflect in our aim to create a family atmosphere as part of the Reducing Re- offending and 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/cropped tops that reveal naked midriff.
  • Low cut tops or shirts that unbutton to reveal cleavage or bare chest.
  • Vests (as a single garment)
  • Mini-skirts that are shorter than knee length and expose thighs.
  • Shorts that are shorter than knee length and expose thighs.
  • All types of see-through clothing.
  • Headwear (other than for religious purposes).
  • Clothing that is offensive in nature or displays offensive discriminatory, or inappropriate material.
  • Ripped clothing
  • Cloaks, capes, scarves or other articles that could prevent staff from observing visitors and prisoners sufficiently.

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 Annex to the visits policy.

Visiting facilities

The children’s play area and cafe are available for tuck shop style food. This can be pre ordered from this website before your visit by phone, and collected on the day

Family days

These days are currently running, please speak to the visits booking line and 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:

  • 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 Prisoners do not yet have phones in their rooms 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 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.

Email

You can send emails to someone in Lincoln Prison using the Email a Prisoner service.

Letters

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 Lincoln 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

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 the HMPPS Incentives Policy, Annex F.

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 person at Lincoln 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.

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 person 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

Everyone is allocated a key worker officer who meets them weekly to monitor progress and discuss any problems. Men also find out about the rules, fire safety, and how things like calls and visits work.

Accommodation

Around 650 men 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 men 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 for family and friends

Contact and lead for families and significant others is Governor Pagram.

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

Problems and complaints

If you have a problem with any aspect of the prison, please write to the prison governor.

Contact Lincoln Prison

Governor: Matt Spencer

Telephone: 01522 663 000
24 hours
Fax: 01522 663 001
Find out about call charges

Follow Lincoln Prison on Twitter

Address

HMP/YOI Lincoln
Greetwell Road
Lincoln
LN2 4BD

See map

Safer custody hotline

If you have concerns about the safety or wellbeing of a person at HMP Lincoln, you can call the Safer Custody hotline.

Telephone: 01522 663287

Leave a message with a brief description of your concerns, who you are concerned about and their prison number and your name and contact details. You may receive a call back should it be deemed necessary following a welfare check of the person.

In an emergency, call the switchboard.

(Please note, this line will not be checked between 2300-0700 hours daily).

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

Published 7 April 2020
Last updated 9 September 2022 + show all updates
  1. Social and legal visits updated.

  2. Updated Governor

  3. Updated visiting guidance based on 1 April COVID rule changes

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

  5. Updated visiting information: Reduced visit schedule and testing for visitors aged 12 and over.

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

  7. Added link to information about testing for physical contact at visits.

  8. New visiting times and booking information added.

  9. 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.

  10. visit info

  11. Updated visit info

  12. Updated visit info

  13. Updated visit info

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

  15. Updated visiting information in line with coronavirus restrictions.

  16. Updated visiting information in line with coronavirus restrictions.

  17. Updated dress code

  18. Updates to entering and visits sections

  19. updated survey

  20. First published.