Crossword Genius

Patients or prisoners at home with friends (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

inmates

'patients or prisoners' is the definition.
(people confined to hospital or prison)

'home with friends' is the wordplay.
'home' becomes 'in' ('he's home' can mean 'he's in').
'with' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'friends' becomes 'mates' (mate is a kind of friend).
'in'+'mates'='INMATES'

'at' is the link.

(Other definitions for inmates that I've seen before include "Prisoners" , "Inhabitants" , "Ties man (anag.)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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