Prison Law

Prison Law

Prison Law looks after the rights of prisoners. The imprisonment of a person can be a worrying and distressing time. Whether you are a long-term prisoner or have only just been detained and are worried about what your rights and privileges are whilst detained, then you do not have to look any further.

At Duncan Lewis, we appreciate the emotional distress caused to you and your family during such times. That is why choosing the right solicitors will be one of the most important decisions you will ever make.

We have specialist teams made up of highly skilled lawyers, dedicated to providing comprehensive advice and assistance across the full range of matters dealt with in prison law.

Our Prison Law department provides a unique service to clients by ensuring that the care they have received throughout their criminal matters continues at a time when they may be most vulnerable — during custody. Our lawyers can assist with issues such as appeals against conviction and/or sentence, proceeds of crime, advice regarding categorisation, and related matters.

We also assist clients who experience difficulties during their time in custody. This includes transfers to other prisons (often closer to loved ones), re-categorisation to support sentence plans, complaints, and advice specific to foreign nationals. We are experienced in representing clients during adjudications (“nickings”) for disciplinary matters, with strong advocacy to secure the best possible outcomes where extra days could be added to a sentence.

Towards the end of a sentence, our team provides expert advice and representation in relation to parole (for determinate and indeterminate sentences), Home Detention Curfew (HDC), and licence conditions. We have extensive experience in oral parole hearings, including for life-sentence prisoners, where robust representation can be instrumental in securing early release.

Post-release, we assist clients in relation to licence recall matters, including preparing representations or attending oral hearings to challenge recall decisions and present mitigation.

At Duncan Lewis, we represent clients on a privately funded basis, offering competitive and transparent rates, including fixed-fee and hourly-rate options depending on the nature and complexity of the case. We aim to provide clear cost estimates from the outset so that clients and their families can make informed decisions with confidence.