What SentenceWise is
SentenceWise is a free app for iPhone and Android that explains, step by step and in plain English, what happens on the justice journey in England and Wales — from arrest and charge, through court, sentence and prison, to release and life afterwards.
It is built around one promise: everything stays on your phone. The app works completely offline. It has no accounts, no analytics, no trackers, and makes no network requests at all — the Android app does not even hold the permission needed to use the internet. Nobody, including the people who make the app, can see anything you put into it.
Information, not legal advice. SentenceWise gives general information about how the system works. It is not legal advice, it cannot calculate release dates, and it cannot predict the outcome of any case. Always check anything important against your own official documents, or with a solicitor or other qualified adviser. Read the full disclaimer.
Who it is for
- People going through the system — facing charges, waiting for court, serving a sentence, or preparing for release.
- Family and friends — partners, parents and others supporting someone inside, including plain-language material to help explain things to children.
- Victims of crime — what the process looks like from the other side, and where to find independent support.
- Anyone who supports them — keyworkers, mentors, volunteers and community organisations who want a clear, checkable account of how things work.
The app includes Easy Read guidance, verified helpline and support service details, and a quick-exit feature for anyone who needs to close it discreetly.
Where the information comes from
The guidance is written by SentenceWise and grounded in official public sources — GOV.UK guidance, prison and probation policy documents and other public sector information — with each topic dated inside the app so you can see how current it is. Details and full attributions are on the disclaimer and sources page.
On this site
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Privacy policy
The full policy: nothing is collected, everything is encrypted on your device, and how to erase it all.
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Terms of use
What the app is and is not, accuracy and liability, and the licences the code and content are published under.
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Disclaimer & sources
Not legal advice, not clinical advice — plus emergency numbers, credits and the official sources behind the content.
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Support
How to get help using the app and how to report a problem.
In an emergency
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999. If you cannot speak safely, listen and follow the operator — on a mobile, press 55 when prompted. Samaritans are free to call any time on 116 123. These services are independent of SentenceWise.