Article 55 Governor’s punishments

(1)

If he finds a prisoner guilty of an offence against discipline the governor may, subject to paragraph (2) F1, (2A) and to rule 57, impose one or more of the following punishments:

(a)

caution;

(b)

forfeiture for a period not exceeding F284 days of any of the privileges under rule 8;

(c)

exclusion from associated work for a period not exceeding 21 days;

(d)

stoppage of or deduction from earnings for a period not exceeding 84 days F3...;

(e)

cellular confinement for a period not exceeding F421 days;

F5(f)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(g)

in the case of a prisoner otherwise entitled to them, forfeiture for any period of the right, under rule 43(1), to have the articles there mentioned;

F6(h)

removal from his wing or living unit for a period of 28 days;

F7(i)

payback punishment, unless the prisoner is an unconvicted prisoner;

F8(j)

in the case of a convicted prisoner, forfeiture of social visits for a period not exceeding 27 days;

(k)

in the case of a convicted prisoner, restriction of social visits to once in every period of 28 days for a period not exceeding 84 days.

(2)

F9... A caution shall not be combined with any other punishment for the same charge.

F10(2A)

A punishment listed in rule 55(1)(j) or (k) does not apply in relation to social visits from a child of the prisoner and any adult who is appropriately accompanying that child.

(2B)

In paragraphs (1) and (2A)—

“child of the prisoner” means a person under the age of 18 in respect of whom the prisoner—
1. (a)
  is a parent, or
2. (b)
  has parental responsibility within the meaning of section 3 of the Children Act 1989;
“social visit” means an in-person visit to a prisoner, but does not include visits from a person acting in a professional or official capacity.

(3)

If a prisoner is found guilty of more than one charge arising out of an incident, punishments under this rule may be ordered to run consecutively but F11in the case of a punishment of cellular confinement, the total period shall not exceed 21 days.

(4)

In imposing a punishment under this rule, the governor shall take into account any guidelines that the Secretary of State may from time to time issue as to the level of punishment that should normally be imposed for a particular offence against discipline.

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1: Word in rule 55(1) inserted (2.9.2026) by The Prison (Governor’s and Adjudicators’ Punishments) (Amendment) Rules 2026 (S.I. 2026/664), rules 1(1), 4(a)(i) (with rule 8)
F2: Word in rule 55(1)(b) substituted (2.9.2026) by The Prison (Governor’s and Adjudicators’ Punishments) (Amendment) Rules 2026 (S.I. 2026/664), rules 1(1), 4(a)(ii) (with rule 8)
F3: Words in rule 55(1)(d) omitted (15.8.2002) by virtue of The Prison (Amendment) Rules 2002 (S.I. 2002/2116), rule 1, Sch. para. 5(a)
F4: Words in rule 55(1)(e) substituted (15.8.2002) by The Prison (Amendment) Rules 2002 (S.I. 2002/2116), rule 1, Sch. para. 5(b)
F5: Rule 55(1)(f) omitted (15.8.2002) by virtue of The Prison (Amendment) Rules 2002 (S.I. 2002/2116), rule 1, Sch. para. 5(c)
F6: Rule 55(1)(h) added (15.8.2002) by The Prison (Amendment) Rules 2002 (S.I. 2002/2116), rule 1, Sch. para. 5(d)
F7: Rule 55(1)(i) inserted (31.5.2024) by The Prison and Young Offender Institution (Adjudication) (Amendment) Rules 2024 (S.I. 2024/212), rules 1(1), 2(5)(a)
F8: Rule 55(1)(j)(k) inserted (2.9.2026) by The Prison (Governor’s and Adjudicators’ Punishments) (Amendment) Rules 2026 (S.I. 2026/664), rules 1(1), 4(a)(iii) (with rule 8)
F9: Words in rule 55(2) omitted (15.8.2002) by virtue of The Prison (Amendment) Rules 2002 (S.I. 2002/2116), rule 1, Sch. para. 5(e)
F10: Rules 55(2A)(2B) inserted (2.9.2026) by The Prison (Governor’s and Adjudicators’ Punishments) (Amendment) Rules 2026 (S.I. 2026/664), rules 1(1), 4(b) (with rule 8)
F11: Words in rule 55(3) substituted (15.8.2002) by The Prison (Amendment) Rules 2002 (S.I. 2002/2116), rule 1, Sch. para. 5(f)