Someone on remand: what it means

Being on remand is its own kind of hard. They are in prison, but the case is not over, and nobody can tell you how it ends yet. Here is what remand means and what to expect.

These rules cover England and Wales. In Scotland or Northern Ireland? Start here.

What remand is

Remand? means the court decided to keep them in custody while the case goes on, instead of letting them wait at home on bail. It happens for serious charges, or where the court thinks they might not turn up, interfere with the case, or commit more offences. It is not a sentence. Many people on remand are later given a shorter sentence than feared, a community order, or are found not guilty.

The good news about remand time

Every day on remand counts. If they are later sentenced to prison, all the time already spent on remand for that case is knocked off automatically. This is why people are sometimes sentenced and released the same week, or walk out of court, because remand has already covered the prison part. Put the sentence and the remand days into our release date calculator to see.

What they are allowed on remand

Because they are unconvicted, remand prisoners usually get more than sentenced prisoners:

• More visits, often several a week, and you do not need a visiting order to book. Check the times on their prison's page.
• Their own clothes, in most prisons.
• They do not have to work, though many choose to.
• Often a bit more spending money and more letters than sentenced prisoners.

Everything else works the same: they ring you from approved numbers, you send money on GOV.UK, and letters and other ways to keep in touch all apply.

How long it lasts

Honestly, often longer than anyone wants. There are legal limits meant to stop people waiting too long, but with the courts as backed up as they are, waiting months for a trial is common. The one person who can give a realistic timescale for your case is the solicitor. Our what happens at court guide explains the hearings along the way.

Moves and video-link hearings

Two things catch families out. First, remand prisoners can be moved between prisons at short notice, and no one will warn you, so a sudden silence often just means a move: see how to find them again. Second, many hearings, including some sentencing, now happen by video link from the prison rather than the person being taken to court. The solicitor will know which is planned.

Looking after yourself

The not-knowing is the hardest part of remand, and it can go on for months. It is normal to feel stuck. The free Prisoners' Families Helpline (0808 808 2003) is there for exactly this. And when the case does reach sentencing, our sentence estimator and release date calculator help you see what it might mean.

Common questions

What does "on remand" mean?

It means being held in prison before the case has finished, because the court did not grant bail. They have not been sentenced, and in many cases not yet convicted. Being on remand is not a punishment, it is the court keeping them in custody while the case goes on.

Does time on remand count towards the sentence?

Yes. If they are later sentenced to prison, every day already spent on remand for that case counts as time served and comes off automatically. So someone can be sentenced and released within days, or even walk free, because remand has already covered the custody part. Our release date calculator lets you enter remand days.

Work out the release date with remand time

Do remand prisoners get more visits?

Usually yes. Because they are unconvicted, remand prisoners can normally have more visits than sentenced prisoners, often several a week, and you do not need a visiting order to book. They can also usually wear their own clothes and are not required to work. Each prison sets its own remand visit times, so check the prison page.

How long does someone stay on remand?

It varies a lot. There are legal time limits (custody time limits) meant to stop people waiting too long, but trials are often months away, and courts are very backed up. Weeks or many months is common. The solicitor and the court are the people who can give a realistic timescale for a specific case.

Can they be moved or sentenced by video link?

Yes to both. Remand prisoners are sometimes moved between prisons at short notice. And many court hearings, including some sentencing, now happen by video link from the prison rather than the person being taken to court. The solicitor will know which is planned.

Can I send money and write to someone on remand?

Yes, exactly as for any prisoner. Send money through the free GOV.UK service, and letters and Email a Prisoner get through without approval. Remand prisoners often have a bit more spending money and more letters than sentenced prisoners.