What is oakwood prison like
Oakwood Prison, located in the village of Featherstone in the West Midlands, is the United Kingdom’s largest prison. Opened in April 2012, the prison has a capacity of 1,605 male prisoners and is a category C prison. It is managed by the private security firm G4S, who have a 10-year contract with the Ministry of Justice.
Oakwood Prison is designed to provide a more secure environment than a traditional prison, with its buildings constructed in the form of a ‘hub and spoke’ layout, effectively separating different types of prisoners. It is also the first prison in the UK to be equipped with body scanners.
Oakwood Prison has a particular focus on rehabilitation and education, with a range of courses and activities designed to help prisoners reintegrate into society. A variety of health services are also available, including drug and alcohol rehabilitation and mental health services. Despite this, reports from HM Inspectorate of Prisons have stated that the prison has inadequate systems for assessing and managing risk, and has high levels of violence and self-harm.
Is Oakwood Prison Dangerous
Despite its focus on rehabilitation and education, Oakwood Prison has been criticised for having inadequate systems for assessing and managing risk, and reports from HM Inspectorate of Prisons have noted that the prison has high levels of violence and self-harm. A survey published in 2017 by the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) revealed that Oakwood Prison had higher rates of assaults and self-harm than the national average, with a total of 1,075 incidents of violence and self-harm reported in the past year [3].
In addition, in 2016 prison inspectors found that although the prison took steps to reduce the risk of extremism, there were still risks posed by organised groups of inmates and that the prison was not properly managing those risks [4]. As such, Oakwood Prison can be considered a dangerous place for both inmates and staff.
Oakwood Prison Location
Oakwood Prison is located in Featherstone, Staffordshire in the United Kingdom. It opened in April 2012, and is managed by G4S, the world’s leading security company [1]. The prison was designed to hold up to 2,500 inmates and has modern facilities, access to training, education, industrial type employment, and physical health and wellbeing initiatives [2]. It is located approximately 10 miles from Wolverhampton and is close to the M6 motorway [3].
Oakwood Prison Address
Oaks Dr, Featherstone WV10 7QD