Family Advocacy Service

Independent advocacy for families bereaved by a death in prison custody in Scotland.

Losing a family member in prison custody brings grief, questions, and often contact with several different organisations at once — the Scottish Prison Service, the police, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, and sometimes the NHS or a Fatal Accident Inquiry.

The Family Advocacy Service is here to help. We are a free, independent service for the immediate family and next of kin of someone who has died in prison custody in Scotland. Our advocacy workers can explain what is happening, make sure your voice is heard, and support you for as long as you need us — whether that is a few weeks or several years.

We are independent of the Scottish Prison Service and every other organisation involved. We do not give advice or tell you what to do. We are here to make sure you have the information you need to make your own decisions, at your own pace.

    This service is available to immediate family members, or next of kin, of someone who has died in prison custody in Scotland.

    The service is free to use, wherever you live in Scotland, including rural and island communities. There is no time limit on when you can get in touch — you can contact us whether the death happened recently or some time ago.

How to access support

You can contact us directly, at any time, in whichever way feels most comfortable — by phone, email, online form, post or in person. You can also be referred to us by one of the organisations below, who will only pass your details to us, if you have given your permission. We accept referrals from:

  • Scottish Prison Service staff, including family liaison officers.
  • The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.
  • NHS Scotland.
  • Police Scotland.
  • A charity, bereavement service, or other organisation who may be supporting you.

Contact details for us can be found by clicking here. Contact Us

Our online referral form can be found by clicking here. Referral Form

To download our leaflets, please click below

Family Advocacy Leaflet Family Advocacy Guide for referrers