Banged Up Abroad

I created this website after my own family was faced with the reality of having a loved one imprisoned abroad

Very quickly, we found ourselves trying to navigate a foreign prison system, a different language, confusing procedures, travel arrangements and a huge amount of uncertainty, all whilst trying to support someone we cared about from another country

What we struggled to find was clear, practical information written from a family’s perspective 

Most of the information available online was either outdated, overly official, frightening or simply did not answer the questions families actually need to know: 

• What happens in the first few days?

• How do visits work?

• What can you take into the prison?

• How do phone calls and money systems work?

• What is daily life inside the prison really like?

• What should families realistically expect?

This website was created to help families feel more informed, less overwhelmed and better prepared when dealing with the incredibly difficult situation of having someone in prison abroad

The focus of this site is practical, experience-based guidance that combines official information with real experiences from families who have gone through the process themselves

The first guide on this website focuses on La Santé Prison in Paris, with the hope that over time other families may also contribute their own experiences of prisons around the world to help others facing the same situation

If you would like to contribute to a prison page on this site or have any comments or queries, please contact me on bangedupabroadcom@gmail.com 

If you are not at this stage yet and your loved one has just been arrested, please contact Prisoners Abroad and the Embassy for help

Important information

The information on this website is based on a combination of publicly available information and personal experiences from families

Prison rules, procedures and conditions can change regularly and may vary between prisoners, wings and individual circumstances. While every effort is made to keep information accurate and up to date, this website cannot guarantee that all information will remain current or apply in every situation

Families should always confirm important information directly with the prison, legal representatives, consular services or relevant authorities

This website is intended for informational and support purposes only and does not provide legal advice

This website is independent and is not affiliated with any prison service or government authority