Category C Prisons Explained
Last reviewed: June 2026
What the prison categories mean
Every adult man sentenced to custody in England and Wales is given a security category that reflects the risk he poses and the risk of him escaping. The category is not a punishment in itself; it is a management tool used to decide where someone is held and how much supervision they need. There are four categories for adult men, from A (the highest security) to D (open conditions). Women and young people are categorised under separate systems based on assessed risk rather than these letter grades.
| Category | Who it is for | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| A | Those whose escape would be highly dangerous to the public or national security | Highest security, closed |
| B | Those who do not need the highest security but for whom escape must be made very difficult | Closed, high security |
| C | Those who cannot be trusted in open conditions but are unlikely to try to escape | Closed training prison |
| D | Those who can be reasonably trusted in open conditions | Open prison, more freedom |
What a Category C prison is actually like
Category C prisons are the most common type of adult male prison and hold the largest share of the population. They are secure, with a perimeter fence or wall, locked cells and controlled movement, but the regime is geared towards rehabilitation rather than containment alone. The emphasis is on what the system calls “training and resettlement”: helping a person gain qualifications, work experience and the practical skills needed to live a law-abiding life after release. Examples include HMP Ford’s closed counterparts and a large number of dedicated training establishments across the country.
Daily life typically involves a structured routine of work, education or vocational training during the day, association periods in the evening, and access to a gym, library and visits. Conditions vary widely between individual prisons, and overcrowding affects many of them. As of early 2026 the prison population in England and Wales stood at more than 87,000 against a certified normal capacity of around 70,000, so many Category C prisons hold more people than they were designed for. This can mean shared cells and pressure on activities and healthcare.
How prisoners are categorised and re-categorised
Categorisation is decided after a sentenced person arrives in custody, based on the seriousness of the offence, the length of sentence, any history of escape or violence, and the risk of harm to the public. It is reviewed regularly, usually every 6 to 12 months. Good behaviour, engagement with sentence planning and reducing risk can lead to a move down the categories, for example from B to C, and eventually to open (Category D) conditions ahead of release. Poor behaviour, new charges or escape attempts can lead to re-categorisation upwards.
- “Category C means low risk.” Not exactly. It means a person is not considered likely to make a determined escape attempt, but they may still have committed serious offences. Category reflects escape risk and trust, not how serious the original crime was.
- “You choose your prison.” You do not. Allocation is decided by the prison service based on category, available spaces and sometimes proximity to home, though family ties are taken into account where possible.
- “Category C prisoners get day release automatically.” ROTL is never automatic. It is risk-assessed individually and tends to come later in a sentence.
Moving from Category C towards release
For many people, Category C is where the practical preparation for release happens. Towards the end of a sentence, a prisoner assessed as low risk may be considered for transfer to open (Category D) conditions and for ROTL, which allows temporary, licensed periods out of prison for work, training or maintaining family ties. Our founder Daniel Hockey, who served a sentence himself and progressed from HMP Wandsworth to open conditions at HMP Ford, writes from first-hand experience about how this progression works in practice. You can read more about Daniel Hockey.
Frequently asked questions
How long do you stay in a Category C prison?
There is no fixed period. It depends on sentence length, behaviour and risk reviews. Some people spend years in Category C; others move down to open conditions within months of becoming eligible.
Can you be sent back from Category C to Category B?
Yes. If someone’s behaviour, risk or circumstances change, they can be re-categorised upwards at any review.
Do Category C prisons have visits?
Yes. All closed prisons allow social visits, subject to booking and security rules. See our guide on prison visits and on how to contact someone in prison.
Is Category C the same as a “training prison”?
In practice, yes. Category C prisons are usually described as closed training prisons because their main purpose is education, work and resettlement.
Official sources
For authoritative guidance see GOV.UK on prisoner categorisation, the Prison Reform Trust, and reports from HM Inspectorate of Prisons.
