Petition · past parliament · Ministry of Justice
Allow conjugal visits for partners and children in England and Wales
Closed
64 signatures
What the petition asks
An estimated 310,000 children have a parent in prison in England and Wales. 10,000 visits are made by children to prisons every week. With a limited number of visits per month, typically lasting for a maximum of 1 hour each, prison can have a hugely damaging effect on relationships and families.
In many other countries conjugal visits are permitted. However, in the UK they are is not permitted. Introducing conjugal visits should reduce the impact on relationships of incarceration. It could also make prisoners more likely to follow the rules for fear of losing their right to have a visit.
Norway allows conjugal visits and it has one of the lowest re-offending rates in the world, with only 20% of convicts reoffending within two years of release. In comparison, the reoffending rate for convicts released from prisons in England and Wales is over 20% within one year of release.
Norway allows conjugal visits and it has one of the lowest re-offending rates in the world, with only 20% of convicts reoffending within two years of release. In comparison, the reoffending rate for convicts released from prisons in England and Wales is over 20% within one year of release.
Timeline
| 18 Jan 2023 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 18 Jul 2023 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
64
Status
Closed
Department
Ministry of Justice
Opened
18 Jan 2023
Closed
18 Jul 2023
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.