Categorisation of adult male prisoners

What types of prisons are there?

There are two types of prison:

Closed prison: this type of prison is for Category A, B and C prisoners. It has a high level of security to stop prisoners from escaping

Open prison: this type of prison is for Category D prisoners. It has much less security than a closed prison and you are given more freedom

How is my category decided?

Prison staff will give you a security level ('Category') based on:

The chance that you will try to escape
The risk to the public if you do escape
Any issues that affect the security and order of the prison
Any issues that affect the safety of the people in the prison

Staff will give you a letter explaining your Category and the reasons why it was given to you.

After your Category is decided, you will go to the lowest security prison that can manage your risk.

What if I disagree with the decision?

If you think you have put in the wrong Category, you can appeal. To do this, you will need to follow the normal complaints procedure.

What are the Categories?

There are four security Categories for adult male prisoners, going from highest to lowest risk.

The Categories are:

Category A: staff believe you are likely to escape and will be dangerous if you do
Category B: staff believe you need less security than Category A but are still likely to escape and may be dangerous if you do
Category C: staff believe you are unlikely to escape but cannot trust you in an open prison
Category D: staff believe they can trust you in an open prison

What is the 'E-list'?

If the amount of security you need increases and staff believe you are likely to escape, you will be put on a list, known as the 'E-list'. The E-list is reviewed at least every 28 days.

Can my Category change?

Yes. Prison staff will review your Category every 6-12 months unless your sentence is less than 12 months or you are already in the lowest Category (Category D).

Your Category will also be reviewed if your circumstances or behaviour change in a way that affects how much security you need. The amount of security you need can increase or decrease.

Can I move to a different prison?

You can ask to be moved to a different prison, but the governor may not agree to this.