Inside Look: Life and Facilities at Risley Prison

Welcome to our inside look at Risley Prison. Located in Warrington, Cheshire, Risley Prison provides high-level rehabilitative and vocational services to its inmates. Our deep dive will paint a picture of day-to-day life and facilities at this institution.

Risley Prison is a Category C adult male prison that has the capacity to hold approximately 1,095 prisoners. It is known for promoting rehabilitation, offering a wide variety of vocational educational and training services.

Facilities at Risley Prison

• Accommodation: Risley is composed of 10 residential wings, each containing single and double cells with basic facilities like a bed, desk, chair, and storage for personal items.
• Education: Risley offers various educational programs from basic literacy skills to Open University courses. The education department is managed by Novus, providing support in a variety of subjects.
• Workshops: Inmates have the opportunity to get involved in different workshops, like construction, catering, horticulture and recycling. This helps prisoners to develop useful skills for future employment.
• Healthcare: A healthcare team is available to provide medical, dental, and mental health services.
• Chaplaincy: Risley prison respects all faiths and houses a multi-faith chaplaincy team, offering various worship services and pastoral care.

Prisoners at Risley can earn privileges as part of the Incentives and Earned Privileges scheme (IEP). This allows for benefits such as extra visitation rights, in-cell televisions, and higher wages for work.

Day-to-Day Life at Risley Prison

Life at Risley operates on a structured routine. Inmates are generally allowed out of their cells for at least several hours each day – to work, access educational programs, exercise, socialise, and seek the support they need.

Visitation plays a crucial part in prisoners’ lives. They’re typically allowed at least two visits every four weeks. The visits are supervised, but the visitors’ centre aims to create a relaxed atmosphere to support the wellbeing of all relatives, including children.

Despite being a place of confinement, Risley Prison is a space where inmates can engage in personal development activities. It seeks to lower the risks of reoffending through rehabilitative measures and reshaping its residents’ futures.

Please note, all information provided pertains to UK law and is relevant within the context of the UK prison system.

Rehabilitation and Support

Risley Prison’s main goal is to minimise reoffending behaviour, and this is achieved through various rehabilitative initiatives and support services.

1. The Offending Behaviour Programme: Specialised programmes to address offending behaviour. They tackle subjects like violence, drugs, and sexual offences.
2. Substance Misuse Services: There are dedicated services for prisoners dealing with substance abuse or addiction problems, including counseling and peer-led support.
3. Education and Vocational Training: As mentioned earlier, a variety of education and training courses are available to help develop skills for future employment.
4. Probation Service: They work closely with the individual prisoner, providing guidance and ensuring the prisoner complies with the terms of their release.

Risley Prison is about far more than just serving time; it’s about learning, growing, and investing in a better future. We hope this inside look has provided you with an understanding of the facilities and life within Risley Prison.