Brief description:

Maghaberry is a modern high security prison which holds both male and female prisoners. It is the main committal prison in Northern Ireland and from May 2001 began to accommodate immigration detainees.

Maghaberry has two principal objectives: to service the courts and to provide programmes that allow prisoners the opportunity to develop skills to assist in their preparation for release into the community.

Location:

HMP Maghaberry is located approximately 3 miles from the M1 motorway junction at Moira (Junction 9).

 

Visits

There are separate visiting facilities for remand and sentenced prisoners. The sentenced visits area can accommodate 25 visits mostly in cubicles. There is a small open plan area which prisoners with young families can use.

The remand visits area can take 28 visits at any one time.

A small play area for children is provided in each.

In November 2001 Maghaberry introduced a pre-booking scheme for all prison visits. The arrangements are set out in a short booklet titled 'Maghaberry Visits'.

Visitors are collected from the Quakers Visitors Centre outside the main gate of the prison and transported to the visits area.

Entitlements
All sentenced prisoners are allowed one statutory and three privilege visits in 4 weeks, one of which may be on a Saturday. Essentially this means that they may receive one visit per week. Privilege visits can be withdrawn if the prisoner breaks prison rules. Additional privilege visist are available to those on the enhanced regime.

Prisoners on remand are permitted 3 half hour visits per week. During the first week visits do not have to be arranged in advance and passes are not required.

Maghaberry introduced pre-booked visits to prisoners in early December 2001. The new system allows visitors to book a visit on a specific day and at a time that suits them and to book their visits online. All domestic visitors are required to use the new system which applies to both male and female prisoners. A short leaflet titled Maghaberry Visits explains the booking system.

This page sets out details of visiting times, the location of the prison and provides information about search procedures as well as providing links to the online booking forms.

Visiting times

Domestic
Details of visit sessions are provided below:

Sentenced visits
Session 1 09.30 - 10.30; Session 2 11.00 - 12.00; Session 3 14.30 - 15.30; Session 4 15.45 - 16.15

Remand visits
Session 1 09.30 - 10.00; Session 2 10.30 - 11.00; Session 3 11.30 - 12.00; Session 4 14.30 - 15.00; Session 5 15.30 - 16.00

There are no morning visits to female prisoners on Sundays.
There are no visits on Monday’s or Bank Holidays.
An enhanced visit can only be booked in Session 1 for sentenced visits.
A 2 hour visit can only be booked in session 1 for remand visits.
Legal
Legal visits can be undertaken when the prison is closed for ordinary visits. The following visiting slots are available: 09.30 -10.45; 10.45 - 12.20; 14.10 - 15.15; 15.15 - 16.20

The names of the people intending to visit should be given, in advance, to the prison on Tel: 028 9261 1752. It is advisable to arrive 15 mins before the allocated time.

Search:
All visitors to the prison undergo a rub down search followed by a search by a passive drug dog before entering the visits room.

Passive drug dogs are fully trained to detect drugs. The dogs do not come into contact with the person but detect by scent. These dogs are used at the entrance to the Visits Area, and will indicate to the handler when a person may be carrying drugs or has been in close recent contact with drugs. When a dog makes an indication, in the interests of health and safety, that person will be offered a closed visit or asked to leave the prison.

The Northern Ireland Prison Service has a responsibility and duty to prevent smuggling of drugs into prisons. Apart from the health problems caused by drugs they also lead to intimidation and bullying in prisons and an unsafe environment for both staff and prisoners. More widely, the pressure that might be applied to a prisoner's family and friends to traffick in drugs or pay for their habit can cause additional misery and hardship.

The Prison Service is committed to tackling the problem head on with every measure at our disposal. The community would not expect us to act any differently. There will be no half measures.

How to get there....

A bus transports all visitors from the visitors centre outside the prison to the visitor’s reception area at the external gate of the prison where your visit will be processed before you are taken to the visiting area.

Visitors are taken by bus back to the Quakers Visitors Centre at the end of the visit.

A free Flexibus is available Tuesday – Saturday between Lisburn Rail Station and the prison. DEPART 10.30; 13.30: RETURN 12.30; 16.30

Follow the A26 from the Moira roundabout (M1 Junction 9 exit) towards Belfast International Airport for about 2 ½ miles. At the top of the fist hill turn right along the Leckey Road. Follow the road until the end ( ½ mile). The prison is opposite.
Visitors travelling by car should park in the car park at the Quaker Visitors Centre. Vehicles should not be left along the approach road to the prison.

Other transport services from Belfast, Derry and other areas are provided by various local groups and voluntary organisations. Detailed information about the services and timetables can be obtained from the Quaker Visitors’ Centre Tel: 028 9261 1213 or Prison Link, Tel: 028 9026 2492.

Independent Monitoring Board

Clerk to the Independent Monitoring Board
Maghaberry Prison
Old Road
Ballinderry Upper
LISBURN
BT28 2PT

Progressive Regime and Earned Privilege Scheme (PREPS)

On the 20th November 2000 a Progressive Regime and Earned Privilege Scheme (PREPS) was introduced in Maghaberry Prison for all sentenced prisoners.

A summary of the key elements of the scheme is provided below. Maghaberry also has a short booklet giving more detailed information about the privileges associated with each regime level.

The Objectives

To provide privileges and incentives that are earned by prisoners through good behaviour and performance and are removed if the prisoner fails to maintain these acceptable levels of behaviour.

To encourage co-operation and participation.

To encourage sentenced prisoners to progress through the prison system.

To create a more disciplined, better-controlled and safer environment for prisoners and staff.

There are three different levels of regime: Basic; Standard; and Enhanced.

The regime under which a prisoner is held is now determined by an assessment period that focuses on his/her behaviour in areas such as: conduct; personal hygiene; participation in work and education; and attitude to staff and other prisoners. All new prisoners will be formally assessed from committal before being recommended for placement on a regime suitable to their behaviour.

The assessment is made by way of reports from the prisoner’s personal officer and will include reports from staff in other areas such as work, education, visits and the gym. The reports will be considered for the assessment period, and a decision made on an appropriate regime. Prisoners will be informed of all reports and will be given an opportunity to view the reports. The prisoner will be offered the opportunity to sign the report to indicate that disclosure has occurred.

A move to a higher regime will only be made after four consecutive favourable recommendations. Conversely, prisoners who receive any two adverse reports in a three month period, that recommends a reduction in regime will be moved to the lower regime immediately. Prisoners will be given the reasons for a change in regime and may appeal the decision.

Before they are eligible to take part in the enhanced regime it is necessary for prisoners to meet all the criteria and be fully and actively taking part in a sentence management plan.

The Progressive Regime and Earned Privilege Scheme will be reviewed regularly in the form of annual reviews and health checks. It is also the intention to introduce a form of drug testing as part of the overall criteria for the Enhanced level.