HMCIP's main statutory responsibility is the regular inspection of individual establishments. In carrying out this function, matters that are inspected and reported on include physical conditions, quality of prisoner regimes, morale of staff and prisoners, facilities and amenities available to staff and prisoners, questions of safety and decency, and the establishment's contribution to preventing re-offending.

Within the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) there are 15 prison establishments and it is the aim of the Inspectorate to carry out a full inspection of each of these establishments once every 3 years. Each full inspection normally lasts between one and two weeks, depending on the size and complexity of the establishment. Following each inspection a report is prepared, which is submitted to Scottish Ministers and published. In addition to the programme of full inspections, follow up inspections - which normally last one or two days - are undertaken on each establishment not subject to a full inspection.



To view the website of HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, Click Here

To view full inspection reports by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, Click Here