Crime (including domestic abuse)

Criminal justice system

As the Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT) suggest
“We believe that everyone is capable of making a fresh start and, given the opportunity and the right support, we see this happen time and time again.”
“Why support us?” The Prison Advice and Care Trust website. Retrieved 20th March 2024

LOCAL SUPPORT - SELF REFERRAL

There is local support to help achieve the PACT vision. There also needs to be help for people to avoid the steps into crime, and there is support locally for this. See below:

Children and young people

From Buckinghamshire Council
“The Buckinghamshire Youth Justice and Support Team helps prevent children (aged between 10 and 18) from involvement in offending or criminal behaviour.” Also see under “services and resources” for other organisations which may be able to help

families of offenders

From the Thames Valley Partnership
Support for Families of Offenders  Support for Families of Offenders – Thames Valley Partnership

From PACT (Prison Advice and Care Trust)
Support for prisons in Buckinghamshire

From Buckinghamshire Council
Support if you have a relative in prison Support if you have a family member in prison | Family Information Service

From Connection Support
Reset: Support for ex-offenders in Buckinghamshire (over the age of 18) to access accommodation and make positive life choices to reduce the risk of them reoffending and returning to prison. Reset – Connection Support

GENERAL SUPPORT

Some of links are already referred to but this is the home page for Buckinghamshire council’s support around crime and so will be updated with new contacts.

From Buckinghamshire Family information service
Imprisonment and offending support: Support if you’ve been affected by crime, have a relative in prison or are worried about a young person getting involved in crime. Imprisonment and offending support | Family Information Service

Alcohol and drugs

There is excellent local support to help

WELLBEING AND MENTAL HEALTH

For all of us even without a mental health condition an attention to mental and social wellbeing can be helpful.

There is good local support for mental health conditions including with

Finances

There is local support to help manage finances, including debt, see under

Homelessness

There is local support to help if you are homeless or at risk of homelessness, see under

PREVENTING RADICALISATION AND EXTREMISM

You can share or discuss any concern through ACT Early

From ACT Early
The advice line is designed for members of the public to use, especially friends and family, or those who work with vulnerable or young people in volunteering roles.

From Gov UK
“Find out how the Prevent programme supports people who are at risk of becoming involved with terrorism through radicalisation.”
Get help for radicalisation concerns Get help for radicalisation concerns – GOV.UK

NATIONAL SUPPORT - SELF REFERRAL

HELPLINES FOR PRISONERS AND THEIR FAMILIES

From the Prisoners’ Families Helpline
The Prisoners’ Families Helpline can support you if you have a family member who is in contact with the criminal justice system in England and Wales. Contact our Helpline Team Contact our Helpline Team | Prisoners’ Families Helpline

From the Prison Form Trust
Our advice and information service (for families and prisoners) Advice and Information Helpline | Prison Reform Trust

better relationships

From Alternatives to Violence Project Britain (AVPB)
“Our courses aim to teach participants the necessary skills to handle conflict non-violently and to build better, healthier relationships.” There is a small fee for distance learning courses but “concessions and free places are available, so if you can’t afford the fee, please let us know.”

Further support

Other national support is included below

Drug SUPPORT

From Release
Help and Advice: Release provides a free confidential and non-judgemental national information and advice service in relation to drugs and drug laws. Help and Advice | Release

EATING DISORDER

Though there is a detailed section to support eating disorders see under Eating disorder, Beat also provides support for prisoners.

From Beat Eating Disorders
Beat offers support to those in prison via its freephone telephone Helpline and also via post.( see bottom of page)  Helplines – Beat

help for a perpetrator to stop domestic abuse

From Respect
For perpetrators of domestic abuse
Respect Phoneline – confidential helpline, email and webchat service for domestic abuse perpetrators and those supporting them. Help For Domestic Violence Perpetrators | Respect Phoneline UK

help for a perpetrator to stop child abuse

From Stop It Now
Helping preventing child sexual abuse

Criminal record support

From Unlock
Provides information and advice on the ongoing effects of criminal convictions.
“Our helpline is run on limited charitable resources and can get extremely busy. Please search our information and advice pages before contacting the helpline – if you can’t find what you’re looking for or you need more detailed help, we’ll be happy to hear from you.”

From Nacro
Advice for people with criminal records (scroll down to the bottom of page for helpline) Advice For Individuals On Criminal Record Related Issues | Nacro

Employment support for women

From Working Chance
“If you’re a woman with a conviction, we’re here to help you build a brighter future”
Get Support Get support | Working Chance

 

Improving health and reducing health inequalities

For steps to improve everyone’s health and reduce local health inequalities, see under

This page does not just include medical support but potential support in other areas of life.

FREQUENTY ASKED QUESTIONS

GENERAL SUPPORT and information

From the Prison Reform Trust
For prisoners and families – Information and Advice Information and Advice | Prison Reform Trust

From PACT (Prison Advice and Care Trust) is a national charity that provides support to prisoners, people with convictions, and their families through a range of services. Who we are | Prison Advice and Care Trust
includes information for prisoners and families (including some very good videos for children and young people) see under “Prisoners’ families and children”.

From Gov UK
Support when someone leaves prison Leaving prison: Support when someone leaves prison – GOV.UK 

From Citizens Advice

From Unlock
“The UK’s most comprehensive source of online self-help information on a wide range of issues that criminal convictions can affect.”
Information and Advice Information and Advice – Unlock

Mental Health

From Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear Trust
Have produced multiple mental health self-help leaflets, of relevance here are the leaflets on “Prisoner anxiety”, “Prisoner depression and low mood” and “Prisoner Post Traumatic Stress”. Self Help Leaflets – Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust

From MIND

Direct access

Use a variety of services, most of which are free, without consulting your GP

Physiotherapy

You can now self refer for physiotherapy locally

Your Pharmacy

Seven common infections now treated by your local pharmacist

CAMPAIGNS

Show your heart some love, women of Bucks!

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