Last inspectedMay 2024Full inspection, unannounced
Source: HM Inspectorate of Prisons report published 19 August 2024; visiting details from GOV.UK · last checked 29 October 2026
Latest inspection
At its last full inspection (May 2024; report published August 2024), inspectors found outcomes for prisoners were poor for purposeful activity; not sufficiently good for safety and preparation for release; reasonably good for respect. It held 924 people at the time, against an operational capacity of 950. An independent review of progress was published in April 2025.
Safety: not sufficiently good · Respect: reasonably good · Purposeful activity: poor · Preparation for release: not sufficiently good Read our story
Safety: not sufficiently good · Respect: reasonably good · Purposeful activity: not sufficiently good · Rehabilitation and release planning: not sufficiently good Read our story
Safety: not sufficiently good · Respect: reasonably good · Purposeful activity: not sufficiently good · Rehabilitation and release planning: reasonably good Read our story
The Chief Inspector of Prisons formally told the Justice Secretary of urgent and significant concerns. The government must respond publicly within 28 days. Read our story
An assistant coroner found that staff at HMP Nottingham did not know, or did not understand, the psychological history of the man who killed Jonathan Thornton in June 2024.
Inspectors found a busy reception prison under constant strain, with high violence and self-harm, too few activity places and chaotic preparation for release.
An inspection report on HMP Nottingham, published in September 2022, found encouraging signs of stability, but high self-harm, nearly half of men unemployed and weaker release planning.
The inspectorate's report on HMP Nottingham, published in April 2020, found the troubled local prison had improved in three of four areas, though violence and self-harm remained far too high.
Prison News staff
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