HMP Oakwood rated good in three tests as inspectors call it a benchmark prison
Inspectors found a safe, ordered and purposeful jail with exceptional family support, though drugs, poor food and gaps in release planning still needed attention.
At its last full inspection (April 2024; report published August 2024), inspectors found outcomes for prisoners were reasonably good for preparation for release; good for safety, respect and purposeful activity. It held 2,094 people at the time, against an operational capacity of 2,134.
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Healthy prison tests: inspectors grade four areas from 1 (poor) to 4 (good).
Inspectors found a safe, ordered and purposeful jail with exceptional family support, though drugs, poor food and gaps in release planning still needed attention.
The inspectorate's report on HMP Oakwood, published in September 2021, found England's biggest prison safe and respectful, with strong prisoner-led initiatives, but rated rehabilitation and release planning not sufficiently good.