Researching in UK Prisons — What it’s *really* like
These reflections are based on my personal thoughts, feelings, and observations and are not affiliated with my place of work. To maintain confidentiality, no specific prisons are named. Over the past 18 months, I have researched with over 20 UK Prisons as a consultant for Ministry of Justice. I hope that by sharing my experiences, I can offer insights to other researchers in this field, as well as to those who are curious or working in similarly unique and reactive environments.
My first visit to a prison began at 5am, an early train, followed by another train and a taxi. I travelled alone and began to think: what did I really know about prisons? On paper, I understood the policies, reforms, statistics but now journeying towards my first prison visit, I drew a blank on what I actually expected from the three-dimensional, real-life experience of being inside one. And to be honest, I felt anxious — even before the ill-advised double espresso. To be clear, while the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) provides comprehensive guidance and has a network of supportive User Researchers, there’s still nothing quite like the experience of stepping into a prison for the first time.
The building was tucked away, surrounded by grass, with a long, straight road leading up to it, which gave it and almost otherworldly feel. Since then, I’ve visited prisons unapologetically placed in the heart of cities or hidden among busy streets, with homes just a stone’s throw away. I’ve come to learn that every prison is completely unique, both in its operation and appearance. Some, like HMP Pentonville, are historic listed buildings, with a graveyard (!) from the era of hangings, while others, such as HMP Thameside, are modern facilities built relatively recently in 2012.
When I arrived in the reception, I put my house keys, phone, smart watch and headphones in a locker. The reception staff checked my ID and pointed to a list of prohibited items listed on the wall in large font. All the expected items, as well as chewing gum as it can be used to cut keys (who knew). Next an airport-style security check, I placed my remaining possessions, including my discussion guide, in the tray.
The UK media might have you believe that every prison cell comes with an Xbox and a mini fridge, while American dramas paint a picture of long cafeteria tables and food fights. In reality, UK prisons have neither. Cells are small with a toilet and a bed, or two, and this is where people in prison eat all their meals. During the Coronavirus Pandemic people in prison would spend up to 23 hours of the day inside their cell.
Inside the prison, I felt a strange kind of unsettling sensation, knowing that in a few hours, I’d be walking back out, while for those inside, this was home. For some, it would be temporary; for others, perhaps a place they would never leave. If I could bottle that feeling, I would, because it instilled in me a sense of purpose for the research I was conducting. Every time we came across a blocker, had a difficult design crit or Google Slides decided to reformat itself, I’d urge everyone to have a little sniff of the magic purpose potion. It sounds idealistic, but I knew if I could get this research right, it might just make a small difference to people who need it most.
Prisons in England and Wales detain and rehabilitate individuals convicted or awaiting conviction, with HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) governing both the prison system and probation services. There are around 122 prisons with 84,000 inmates, varying in management (there are 14 prisons managed privately), location, and security level. As 96% of the prison population is male, most prisons house adult men, but there are also facilities for women and young offenders. High-security prisoners have little freedom, while lower-security prisons focus on rehabilitation and qualifications. Prisons are complex and challenging environments, each prison visit different to the one before, with one key similarity — passionate staff, often going above and beyond.
On that first visit, I quickly learned that these are incredibly reactive environments, with staff constantly being pulled in and out of the research. And one crucial lesson: always bring food. There’s nowhere to buy anything inside, and after a 5 a.m. start fuelled only by a coffee, a sandwich would go down a real treat (just leave the tin foil at home because that’s another prohibited item).
10 Key learnings from my experience in Prisons
1. Be aware of the strengths and limitations of in person vs remote
I won’t revisit the age-old debate over which research method is superior (…this time), but what I will emphasise is that the chosen approach must align with the specific environment. I conducted some of the prison research sessions via MS Teams. The benefits were clear: no travel costs, less time commitment, and reduced mental strain, there’s no travel to the prison or the associated stress of navigating it. However, the drawbacks were also significant. Technical issues and building rapport with participants was more challenging. It was harder to fully grasp the context of the environment and the participants’ experiences. Some prisons do not even have the tech to facilitate a user research session, for example, no mic on their computer, and even those that do may be in a open plan office where it’s difficult to focus or share sensitive information.
For prison research, I believe that the most effective approach is conducting sessions in person. That said, in cases where I had visited prisons in person but later conducted usability sessions remotely, I found that a hybrid approach worked pretty well. This combination allowed for the initial in-person connection and understanding of the environment which feels really important in prisons.
2. Don’t be afraid to go off-piste (it’s likely brilliant context!)
Conversations with prison staff may not always go as planned, and they can often be short or unstructured, with lots of interruptions. It’s essential to remain flexible and adaptable in these situations. Keep your key questions in mind and be ready to prioritise based on the time you have available. Advice I once got, was to think about my discussion guide: if I only have 2, 5, or 10 minutes, what are the most crucial questions to ask? This approach ensures you can still gather meaningful insights even if conversations are shorter than intended.
3. Beware of biases
I think there’s potential for researcher bias or even a form of ‘white coat syndrome’ to emerge in a prison setting. Prisons are very hierarchical environments, and staff may feel an inherent desire to please or appear compliant, which can influence their responses. The presence of a discussion guide or a laptop can create a kind of ‘fourth wall,’ making the interaction feel more formal or distant. By becoming so familiar with the discussion guide that you can steer the conversation organically, you can create a more fluid and genuine dialogue that helps you gather the information you need without triggering those biases or barriers.
It’s also crucial to position yourself as someone there to listen, not to impose change. In one prison, I was met with a rather hostile, “So what do you think you can do better?” but with some reframing, we turned it into, “Where can we help you?” That small shift transformed the conversation. To date, it was one of the most useful and information rich visits I’ve done.
4. Prepare multiple options for usability testing
For remote research, I usually use Figma online, but since prison WiFi doesn’t allow devices to connect, it’s crucial to download the prototype beforehand. Additionally, prison staff may be unfamiliar with MacBooks, so I always bring a plug-in mouse to help avoid trackpad issues, and this also has to be registered ahead of time so it can come through security.
Even with prior permissions, there’s always a risk that a laptop and/ or mouse won’t be allowed inside, so having printed copies of the prototype screens as a backup is a necessary precaution.
5. Be kind to your mind
Conducting research in high-stress environments like prisons can take a significant mental and emotional toll. As a researcher, it’s crucial to remain attuned to your own emotional responses and wellbeing. Prisons can be emotionally charged environments where you may see people in prison experiencing distress. To be clear, on every prison visit I’ve done, I’ve never felt vulnerable or unsafe, but I have seen fights break out (and be quickly stopped) and people in prison being verbally abusive to staff. Equally, I’ve seen people in prison be polite and respectful to staff.
Looking after your own wellbeing is essential, and it’s important to have mechanisms in place for self-care, such as regular debriefing sessions (see below) and ensuring you’re not overwhelmed with research. For me, I’ve seldom done more than 1 prison visit per week. I also brought another UCD colleague to accompany me for safety and to debrief with, and this is a requirement for MoJ researchers.
6. Make time for a post-visit debrief
Personally, I always find it valuable to do a quick debrief after any research session involving others. It helps ensure I’ve accurately captured the key takeaways and allows for a more critical reflection on the findings. Discussing the research with others not only deepens our understanding but also challenges assumptions, reduces bias, and helps uncover blind spots that we might have missed on our own. After a prison visit, debriefing becomes even more essential — not just to process the research itself but to reflect on the entire experience. Research in these kinds of environments can be mentally and emotionally demanding, and we shouldn’t underestimate the power of conversation to help us process and recalibrate.
Plus, if you’ve taken notes by hand, a debrief is an opportunity to transfer them to your laptop while the visit is still fresh in your mind. And before your handwriting becomes completely indecipherable. I’ve learnt the hard way with this one.
7. Pragmatism over Purism
Prisons are highly reactive environments where schedules can change unexpectedly, so it’s important to be flexible, work efficiently and engage with staff as opportunities arise. You may end up speaking with different staff members than originally planned, but this can provide valuable context and new perspectives that wouldn’t have been possible via remote research.
I once had three users huddled around one screen, testing the same prototype together. Was it ideal? No. But did it give me the feedback I needed? Abso — freakin — lutely. Adapting to the environment is key to getting meaningful insights.
8. Always allow extra time
Due to the extensive security procedures, it’s a good idea to arrive at least 30 minutes early for your visit. Once past the initial security, you’ll go through airport-style checks, if you’re bringing a laptop, this is where it will be checked and this requires a paper form. Navigating the prison itself can also take time. Moving from one area to another involves multiple locked doors that must be opened and secured behind you, so getting from one end of the prison to the other could take up to 15 minutes.
It’s equally important to allow extra time before you need to leave. Prison staff have demanding roles, and they may not be able to escort you exactly when you need to leave. My visits were a couple of hours, so I aimed to arrive after the morning movement and leave at lunchtime, which typically runs between 12 and 1, as the people in prison are in their cell at this time. I say aimed, because as you may have picked up in this article, research in prisons ends up being incredibly fluid.
9. Accessibility is key to success
Prison staff often work with outdated legacy systems, and resistance to change can create a lack of trust in new digital solutions. Compounding this issue are practical challenges like limited access to essential technology for example a lack of microphone or unstable Wi-Fi . To build trust, digital teams must address these challenges by creating systems that are both user-centered and reliable. A major part of this effort is prioritising accessibility, which goes beyond just following Government Digital Standards (GDS). It means actively engaging with users, understanding their specific challenges, and adapting solutions accordingly. For instance, I often advocate for addressing edge cases in the prison environment, to ensure that our designs meet the actual, real-world, needs of those who use them.
10. Advice for women visiting prisons or other male dominated spaces
As I mentioned earlier, the prison population is predominantly male (around 96%) however across the prisons estate the are many female prisons staff members working alongside female Doctors, Psychologists, Probation Officers and many more.
For my visits, I typically wear office attire, like a jumper and trousers with trainers, but you can wear whatever you feel most comfortable in, within reason. If you’re unsure there’s MoJ guidance you can check. There are different areas of a prison and as part of my work I typically have to walk across the wings and am based in the Video Link area where people in prison come in and out of. It’s good to check beforehand which sort of area you will be based in, for example the Offender Management Unit (OMU) is usually an office and you may not see any people in prison if this is where you are visiting.
Stepping into these male-dominated environments can feel intimidating, which is completely normal, so I’ll close with a gentle reminder — you are in charge of where you visit, and you can ask to leave at any time.
If you have any questions or have researched in prisons or are about to research in prisons yourself then please do reach out — I’d love to chat.
