Probation staff offer prisoners help during the time they are preparing for release, they work in every prison and young offenders institution.
Prisoners should meet a member of probation staff shortly after arrival at prison.
Probation staff may be approached for help with problems and should give advice on how a prisoner can keep up contact with his family. Mostly probation staff assess the risk of the prisoner as part of the sentence planning.
National Probation Service information is available at www.probation.homeoffice.gov.uk