Carl Cattermole

Carl Cattermole is a British author and criminal justice campaigner who spent time in the UK prison system and has since become a powerful advocate for reform. His writing draws on firsthand experience to offer practical guidance and unflinching honesty about what prison is really like. Prison: A Survival Guide is an essential, no-nonsense handbook for anyone facing a prison sentence in the UK — and for their families. Cattermole covers everything from what to expect on the first day to how to access healthcare, maintain mental health, and navigate the system. The book was praised for its honesty, its humanity, and its refusal to sugarcoat the reality of incarceration, while also offering genuine hope and practical support. Cattermole's advocacy has helped bring attention to the failures of the UK prison system and the need for reform. Prison: A Survival Guide is available as an audiobook alongside the print edition, giving listeners an honest and practically useful way to understand the realities of the UK prison system.