Prisoners

At Deighton Pierce Glynn we have solicitors with long-standing expertise in defending prisoners’ rights.

We have represented prisoners who have been assaulted by prison staff and who have been placed on false charges. On behalf of our clients, we have brought claims for assault by other prisoners when the prison authorities should have protected them. We have successfully sought or assisted with investigations into inhumane and degrading or life-threatening treatment suffered by vulnerable people in prisons, whether by staff, by other prisoners, or through self-harm. We have also helped clients challenge their treatment by the probation service following release on licence.

We frequently bring claims on behalf of prisoners who have suffered discrimination based on race, religion, or disability (including mental health and neurodiversity). We have also represented prisoners in cases concerning strip-searching, handcuffing, inadequate medical treatment, and transgender rights. We can advise prisoners, or those on probation, who want to challenge policies. We have been successful in getting national and local rules changed so that they are fairer and respect human rights.

We can assist prisoners who are seeking to challenge their current treatment or who wish to claim compensation in relation to past treatment. Due to restrictions on legal aid, we can only help with issues that are of a significant level of seriousness and cannot be resolved effectively through the complaints system. To give your case the best chance of success, please ensure that you keep a record of all the times you complain about your treatment to the prison authorities and the responses that you get.

We represent bereaved families in inquests and civil claims, helping them to seek accountability and the truth about how their loved one died in prison, shortly after release, or while supervised by probation services. More details about our work on inquests is here.