Using video calls to 'do family' across prison walls
Listen now
Description
The Coronavirus pandemic led to many restrictions to all of our lives. For people in prison the restrictions were particlarly severe. The biggest impact was felt when all social visits were halted for many months, meaning people serving custodial sentences weren't able to see their families, friends and loved-ones in person. In response, the Prison Service introduced video calls. In this special episode, presenters Paula Harriott and Phil Maguire get the inside track on how this roll-out happened, what the impact was and what the future may hold for video call technology in prison. They're joined by: Dr Anna Kotova - Lecturer in Criminology at the School of Social Policy, University of Birmingham; Tracy O'Donnell - host of the Family and Friends Request Show on National Prison Radio, and mother of two sons in prison; Tim Lloyd - Head of Family Services at HM Prison and Probation Service. They also hear from Stephen, who was in prison during the height of the lockdown and describes how those calls worked from inside prison. Thanks to the Sir Halley Stewart Trust for funding the research. This episode was recorded in April 2022.
More Episodes
The Secret Life of Prisons is produced by a charity, the Prison Radio Association. To make a donation please visit prison.radio/donate.  -- In the March 2024 budget, Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt said the government will seek to "prioritise proposals that deliver annual savings within...
Published 05/20/24
The Secret Life of Prisons is produced by a charity, the Prison Radio Association. To make a donation please visit prison.radio/donate.  -- In the months leading up to the next general election, the Secret Life of Prisons will be bringing you an occasional series featuring guests who have...
Published 05/13/24