Featherstone Prison
Featherstone is a men’s prison in the village of Featherstone, near Wolverhampton.
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Book and plan your visit to Featherstone
To visit someone in Featherstone you must:
- be on that person’s visitor list
- book your visit at least 2 days in advance
- have the required ID with you when you go
You can book up to 14 days in advance.
Prisoners can have up to 3 adult visitors at a time (18 or over) plus children.
A prisoner can have as many visits as they have visiting orders for. You can check this with the prisoner you are going to visit.
Contact Featherstone if you have any questions about visiting.
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 Featherstone
- somewhere to stay overnight
- meals
How to book family and friends visits
You can book your visit online or by telephone.
Telephone booking line: 0300 060 6502
Find out about call charges
The booking line is open:
- Monday, Wednesday and Friday: midday to 5pm
- Tuesday and Thursday: 9am to 5pm
Telephone bookings can be made up until 5pm, two days prior to a visit.
If you have any questions you can email visitsbooking.westmidlands@justice.gov.uk, however they are not able to book a visit.
For general visits queries, not booking requests, you can also contact PACT on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from midday to 5pm on 01902 70 3254
Find out about call charges
We also have a visitor’s centre website you can visit on: http://featherstonevisits.co.uk/
Visiting times
- Tuesday: 2pm to 4pm
- Wednesday: 2pm to 4pm
- Thursday: 2pm to 4pm
- Saturday: 2pm to 4pm
- Sunday: 2pm to 4pm
How to book legal and professional visits
You can book your legal visit by telephone using the booking line number, 0300 060 6502. Find out about call charges
Legal visits:
- Tuesday and Thursday: 9:30am to 11:30am The latest arrival time is 10:30am
HMP Featherstone operates paperless visits and legal visitors may bring in plug in fire sticks or similar devices to access paperwork which will be securely printed in the visits room. Legal visits staff will provide stationery for legal visitors to use.
Laptops may be brought in but only if the Wi-Fi and camera is disabled. Should a legal visitor have a question about bringing in any documents that are required to be brought in they may contact either 01902 703 264 or 01902 703 048 for approval. Please note this number is not manned all day. Find out about call charges
Getting to Featherstone
Car: From Wolverhampton take the A449 northbound – there is a visitor’s car parking facility at the prison.
Bus: Take number 70 from Stand AC to Cannock. Depart the bus at Honeysuckle Drive, Featherstone. Then walk along New Road towards the Prison (approx. 25 minutes). The Visitors’ Centre is well signposted.
Train: The Nearest Railway Station is 6 miles away in Wolverhampton and you can complete the rest of journey by bus or taxi.
Shuttle Bus: A low-cost shuttle bus service is available 7 days a week. To learn more about this regular service, speak to a member of staff by calling: 01902 799787, or email: shuttle@restartenterprise.com
To plan your journey by public transport:
There is a free visitors car park.
There are disabled visitors spaces in our visitors car park.
Entering Featherstone
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.
- All visitors will need to be given a pat-down search, including children
- You may also be sniffed by security dogs
For security, health and safety reasons, some prisons have a specific dress code for visitors and others have a more relaxed policy, making assessments on a case-by-case basis. At the time we compiled this information, HMP Featherstone’s guidelines were as follows:
- modest dress
- no work clothes (including uniforms and trousers with multiple pockets)
- no sports shirts or football shirts
- no jumpers or shirts with hoods
- no mobile phones
- no offensive logos
- no sunglasses or headscarves unless worn for religious reasons
- no ripped jeans
- no vest tops
- no short skirts or dresses, they must be knee length
What can I bring in for my children?
You may bring in:
- dummies
- baby wipes
- nappies
- milk powder
- prescribed medication
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.
- there are strict controls on what you can take into HMP Featherstone. You will have to leave most of the things you have with you in a locker in the visitors’ centre or in your car
- each adult visitor is permitted to bring in £20 in coins only, for purchasing refreshments - notes are not permitted.
Call our visits centre if you have any questions about visiting 01902 70 3254 or email them on Featherstone@prisonadvice.org.uk
Visiting facilities
There is a visitors centre run by PACT where there are baby changing facilities available.
Refreshments are available to purchase in our visits centre and in the visits room. Each adult visitor is permitted to bring in £20 in coins only, for purchasing refreshments. Notes are not permitted.
The centre is open daily, except Monday and Friday, from midday to 4:30pm.
Family days
High Featherstone run 12 family visits a year. Details on how these visits run can be found by contacting the PACT team on 01902 70 3254.
Keep in touch with someone at Featherstone
There are several ways you can keep in touch with someone during their time at Featherstone.
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
You can request a secure video call with someone in this prison via the Prison Video app.
You will receive a notification when your request has been accepted.
Read more about how it works ###Phone calls Prisoners have phones in their cells but these can only make outgoing calls 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.
You can send emails to someone in Featherstone using the Email a Prisoner service.
You might also be able to attach photos and receive replies, depending on the rules at Featherstone.
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 Featherstone.
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
You can only send items to prisoners in Featherstone in exceptional circumstances. Prisoners can apply to the governor for permission.
All parcels will be opened and checked by officers.
Friends and families 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.
Life at Featherstone
Featherstone is committed to providing a safe and educational environment where prisoners can learn new skills to help them on release.
Security and safeguarding
Every person at Featherstone 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.
Featherstone also trains prisoners to be ‘listeners’ for those who need support during difficult times.
Arrival and first night
When someone first arrives at Featherstone, 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. All cells in the first night centre have phones that can be used at any time.
They will get to speak to someone who will check how they’re feeling and ask about any immediate health and wellbeing needs.
They will be checked on regularly throughout their first 24 hours at Featherstone to make sure they are supported through their induction.
Induction
Each prisoner who arrives at Featherstone gets an induction that lasts about a week. They will meet professionals 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 also finds out about the rules, fire safety, and how things like calls and visits work.
All new prisoners will be given a key worker who will come and get to know them.
Accommodation
Around 690 prisoners live at Featherstone across 7 house units. There is a mixture of single and shared cells.
Facilities include a gym and library.
Education and work
Education at Featherstone is provided by Novus. They run a number of academic courses including Entry Level, Level 1 and Level 2 Maths and English and ITQ.
They also run vocational courses including:
- hospitality
- painting and decorating
- brick laying
- cleaning
Prisoners can also complete higher level qualifications through the Open University.
There are a wide range of activities and interventions available for prisoners to develop their skills and progress through their sentence.
Featherstone also runs specialist qualifications in RMF rail track, motor vehicle and tyre fitting.
Prisoners can also work in a wide range of workshops, including industries, construction, textiles and a print shop.
Support for family and friends
Family services at Featherstone are provided by PACT.
Support at Featherstone
Families can get help and advice from the family engagement team at the visitors centre.
Concerns, problems and complaints
In an emergency
Call 01902 70 3000 if you think a prisoner is at immediate risk of harm. Ask for the Orderly Officer and explain that your concern is an emergency.
| Contact category | Phone number | Additional information |
|---|---|---|
| Non-emergency | 01902 70 3081 | Call this number if you have concerns about a prisoner’s safety or wellbeing which are serious but not life-threatening or complete a safer custody contact form on the Prisoners’ Families Helpline website. |
| Staff Integrity Hotline | 0800 917 6877 (24 hours answering machine) |
This number can be called anonymously. If you are concerned about a prisoner being bullied by a member of staff, you can use this number. As this line is managed separately from the prison, you can call this number anonymously. |
| Prisoners’ Families Helpline | 0808 808 2003 | The Prisoners’ Families Helpline can provide confidential support, advice and guidance. |
| Unwanted Prisoner Contact | 0300 060 6699 | If a prisoner is contacting you and you want them to stop, you can use the Unwanted Prisoner Contact Service. You can complete the Stop prisoner contact online form, email unwantedprisonercontact@justice.gov.uk or contact by phone. |
Problems and complaints
If you have a problem contact Featherstone.
Inspection reports
HM Prison and Probation Service publishes action plans for Featherstone in response to independent inspections.
Contact Featherstone
Governor: Neil O’Connor
Telephone (24 hours): 01902 703 000
Fax: 01902 703 001
Find out about call charges
To contact our head of family provision please email FamilyVisitsFeatherstone@justice.gov.uk
Address
HMP Featherstone
New Road
Featherstone
Wolverhampton
WV10 7PU
Help us to improve this page. Give us your feedback in this 2-minute survey.
Last updated 14 February 2024 + show all updates
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Opening hours updated for visits booking telephone line.
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Updated legal visits enquiries phone number to, 01902 703 264 or 01902 703 048
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Secure video calls update.
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Updated visiting guidance based on 1 April COVID rule changes
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Added link to new safer custody information under Security and safeguarding.
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Updated visiting information: Reduced visit schedule and testing for visitors aged 12 and over.
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Updated visiting information: Testing for visitors aged 12 and over.
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Added link to information about testing for physical contact at visits.
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New visiting times and booking information added.
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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.
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Updated visit info
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Updated visiting information in line with new local restriction tiers.
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Updated visiting information in line with new local restriction tiers.
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Updated visiting information in line with coronavirus restrictions.
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Updated visiting information in line with coronavirus restrictions.
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First published.