FAQ · United Kingdom

What types of correctional facilities are there in the United Kingdom?

In the United Kingdom the directory distinguishes these categories: Prisons and penitentiaries (151), Juvenile detention centers (9), Immigration detention (5), Local and county jails (5), Military prisons (1). Each type has its own regime, and who may visit and which procedures apply also vary.

Examples by type

Prisons and penitentiaries 151

Prisons and penitentiaries are establishments where people sentenced by a final judgment serve their sentence and, depending on the country, also where people await trial. They are usually organised into units or regimes with different security levels and include areas for healthcare, education, work and rehabilitation activities.

Juvenile detention centers 9

Juvenile centers house adolescents and young people who have committed offences. Their approach is mainly educational and rehabilitative, with teams of educators, psychologists and social workers, and with specific visiting and communication rules for minors.

HM Young Offenders Institution Polmont (Brightons)
Ashfield Young Offenders Institute (Locality not identified)
HM Prison and Young Offenders Institute Glenochil (Glenochil)
Hydebank Wood Young Offenders Centre (Purdysburn)

Immigration detention 5

Immigration detention centers hold foreign nationals administratively, not as a criminal penalty, while their immigration status or removal is being resolved. They are not equivalent to a prison: their regime, time limits and the rights of the people held depend on each country's immigration law.

Derwentside Immigration Removal Centre (Consett)
Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre (Milton Ernest)
Campsfield House Immigration Removal Centre (Cherwell)
Colnbrook Immigration Removal Centre (Greater London)

Local and county jails 5

Local jails, county jails and pre-trial detention facilities mainly hold people awaiting trial or serving short sentences, and they usually depend on local or provincial authorities. Because of their function, admissions and releases are more frequent than in a penitentiary and visiting procedures may differ.

Compass House (Gloucester)
Fresh Wharf Custody Base (Greater London)
HM Detention Centre, Brook House (Crawley)
HM Detention Centre, Tinsley House (Crawley)

Military prisons 1

Military prisons are establishments for military personnel under arrest, in pre-trial custody or serving a sentence imposed by the military jurisdiction. They normally depend on the armed forces or the defence ministry and have their own access rules.

Military Corrective Training Center (Colchester)