Location
Location for life sentence prisoners is a vexed issue. There are many seemingly minor points but these taken together are very important. This is important not only for the quality of life of the individual life prisoner, but also in terms of his or her progression.
Prisons offer certain programmes only. Where a life sentence prisoner is transferred for a specific course (see Offending Behaviour section) and that course is not available, then the life sentence prisoner can spend anything up to two years in the wrong place before he is heard by the Parole Board again. Where the offending behaviour course targeted by the Home Office has not been completed, the Parole Board has no power to take account of the failure of the prison system to provide that or transfer someone to the establishment where it is provided. They decide on what is in front of them, regardless of any rights or wrongs on the parts of inmates or prison authorities.
It is here that the specialist lifer practitioner can assist to ensure that a person is in the right place for the right reasons.
That is quite separate from the issue that all prisoners are meant to be held at an establishment that allows continuing family contact to continue as part of the ultimate resettlement package. That is not always possible but sometimes it is overlooked in the rush to process and complete offending behaviour coursework.
Again, this is where advice from a specialist lifer trained prison lawyer will benefit you.