21 April Update_ Send legal mail to prisons.docx

From 21 April 2022 senders of legally privileged and confidential access mail are being asked to use a new MoJ service to send legal and confidential access mail to HMP Leeds, HMP Risley, HMP Holme House, HMP Swaleside, and HMP Stocken.

We are contacting you to let you know that many legally privileged and confidential access senders may be being prompted by prisons to use the service. All individuals and organisations allowed to communicate under Rule 39 or Confidential Access will be able to use the service and are encouraged to do so, and should you be contacted about the service, we would appreciate if you could pass this information on.

Further information can be found in the attached document, (above)  including how the service works, specific benefits of the service to legally privileged and confidential access senders, and what is needed to use the service.

Benefits of the new Send legal mail to prisons service

The aims of the service are to:

• remove the need for double envelopes, unique reference numbers (URNs), and cover letters
• reduce calls from prisons about legitimacy of mail
• significantly reduce Rule 39 and confidential access mail opened in error
• simplify and unify how mail is sent to prisons in England and Wales

Extending the service to other prisons

After a short testing period, we anticipate that the service will roll out to all prisons in England and Wales in June. The team responsible for the service will continue to collaborate with senders of legally privileged and confidential access mail in order to make improvements during this time, as well as the relevant policy teams.

How you can help

We’d welcome any advice or support you might be able to provide in communicating these changes to your members.

If you have any immediate questions or comments, or would like to take part in some further research with us, you can email the team at sendlegalmail@digital.justice.gov.uk