Northallerton (HM Prison)
Encyclopedia
HM Prison Northallerton is a male Young Offenders Institution, located in Northallerton
, North Yorkshire
, England
. The prison is operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service
.
in 1783. It once contained the world's largest treadmill
, but has since been surpassed. It has had a number of changes of role over the years, including use as a military prison, a training prison for adults and a remand centre. Since the summer of 2002 it has operated as a Young Offender Institution for prisoners serving under two years.
In May 2003, a report by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons
commended Northallerton Prison for its improvement. Previously inspection reports had highlighted problems with bullying, poor sanitation and lack of exercise facilities at the jail. The report noted improvements in these areas but called on Northallerton to do more to help resettle offenders in the community.
However, a further inspection report in April 2006 found that some shared cells at Northallerton were unhygienic and unfit for purpose. The report also raised concerns over the insufficient education and work opportunities for inmates at the prison.
The regime at Northallerton revolves mainly around the education
and physical education
departments and preparation for release via employment
search. Northallerton has a Level 2 Health Care Centre with no in-patient facilities. There is a daily doctor's surgery and a weekly dental facility, and also a consultant psychiatric service.
Northallerton
Northallerton is an affluent market town and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. It lies in the Vale of Mowbray and at the northern end of the Vale of York. It has a population of 15,741 according to the 2001 census...
, North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The prison is operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service
Her Majesty's Prison Service
Her Majesty's Prison Service is a part of the National Offender Management Service of the Government of the United Kingdom tasked with managing most of the prisons within England and Wales...
.
History
Northallerton opened as a county gaol for the North Riding of YorkshireNorth Riding of Yorkshire
The North Riding of Yorkshire was one of the three historic subdivisions of the English county of Yorkshire, alongside the East and West Ridings. From the Restoration it was used as a Lieutenancy area. The three ridings were treated as three counties for many purposes, such as having separate...
in 1783. It once contained the world's largest treadmill
Treadmill
A treadmill is an exercise machine for running or walking while staying in one place. The word treadmill traditionally refers to a type of mill which was operated by a person or animal treading steps of a wheel to grind grain...
, but has since been surpassed. It has had a number of changes of role over the years, including use as a military prison, a training prison for adults and a remand centre. Since the summer of 2002 it has operated as a Young Offender Institution for prisoners serving under two years.
In May 2003, a report by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons
Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons
Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons is the head of HM Inspectorate of Prisons and the senior inspector of prisons, young offender institutions and immigration service detention and removal centres in England and Wales...
commended Northallerton Prison for its improvement. Previously inspection reports had highlighted problems with bullying, poor sanitation and lack of exercise facilities at the jail. The report noted improvements in these areas but called on Northallerton to do more to help resettle offenders in the community.
However, a further inspection report in April 2006 found that some shared cells at Northallerton were unhygienic and unfit for purpose. The report also raised concerns over the insufficient education and work opportunities for inmates at the prison.
The prison today
Northallerton Prison is a Young Offenders Institution housing convicted prisoners serving two years or less, or in the last three months of their sentence.The regime at Northallerton revolves mainly around the education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
and physical education
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
departments and preparation for release via employment
Employment
Employment is a contract between two parties, one being the employer and the other being the employee. An employee may be defined as:- Employee :...
search. Northallerton has a Level 2 Health Care Centre with no in-patient facilities. There is a daily doctor's surgery and a weekly dental facility, and also a consultant psychiatric service.