Prisons
Their duty is to look after them with humanity and help them lead law-abiding and useful lives in custody and after release. In doing so, prisons provide public protection, rehabilitation and work to reduce reoffending.
The National Offender Management Service has overall responsibility for protecting the public and reducing reoffending, so is ultimately responsible for issues and policy around prisons. HM Prison Service is responsible for 138 of the 149 prisons in England and Wales. The remaining 11 prisons are run by private sector suppliers.
Contact us
Tel: 020 7217 6000
email
Related information
- More than 4,000 prison places created since Carter Review
- Jack Straw sets out prisons and probation plans
- Capacity and competition policy for prisons and probation
- National Offender Management Service (NOMS)
- Punishment and reform: our approach to managing offenders
- Prison policy update - briefing paper
- Population in custody statistics
- End of custody licence releases and recalls
