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In 1999, the then [[Home Secretary]], [[Jack Straw]], was criticised for awarding Doncaster Prison a [[Charter Mark]], when it emerged that Doncaster had the worst suicide record of any prison in England and Wales. Jack Straw defended his decision as an "unfortunate coincidence of timing".<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/262921.stm | work=BBC News | title=Fury over suicide jail's Charter Mark | date=26 January 1999 | accessdate=1 May 2010}}</ref> |
In 1999, the then [[Home Secretary]], [[Jack Straw]], was criticised for awarding Doncaster Prison a [[Charter Mark]], when it emerged that Doncaster had the worst suicide record of any prison in England and Wales. Jack Straw defended his decision as an "unfortunate coincidence of timing".<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/262921.stm | work=BBC News | title=Fury over suicide jail's Charter Mark | date=26 January 1999 | accessdate=1 May 2010}}</ref> |
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⚫ | Classified as a 'local remand' prison, Doncaster can hold 1,145 prisoners, considerably more than its original design envisaged. Accommodation at the prison comprises three Houseblocks, each Houseblock has 4 wings and each wing can hold a maximum of 90 prisoners. Prisoners requiring a high level of support for mental health conditions or learning disabilities have separate accommodation in “the Loft” and prisoners needing social care reside in the Social Care Unit. |
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In 2004, [[Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons]] accused Serco of "institutional meanness" at Doncaster Prison, and described conditions there as "squalid".<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-14869503_ITM | work=Europe Intelligence Wire | title=Watchdog describes prison as 'squalid' in new report | date=12 April 2006|accessdate=29 October 2008}}</ref> Four years later, an unannounced inspection of the prison found inmates sleeping in toilets because of overcrowding.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2008/jul/22/doncaster.prison | work=The Guardian | location=London | title=Inmates sleep in toilets at overcrowded prison | first=Sara | last=Gaines | date=22 July 2008 | accessdate=1 May 2010}}</ref> |
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HMIP inspection reports claim that Doncaster Prison is overcrowded; this is due to the prison being designed to hold 738 prisoners, it now has a capacity of 1145 which means cells designed to hold one person now hold two. This issue will never change unless the operational capacity is reduced or an additional Houseblock is built. |
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==The prison today== |
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⚫ | Classified as a 'local remand' prison, Doncaster can hold 1,145 |
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The prison provides [[education]] – [[literacy]], [[numeracy]], [[information technology]] and vocational skills - [[healthcare]], drug and alcohol [[counselling]], and offending behaviour courses. |
The prison provides [[education]] – [[literacy]], [[numeracy]], [[information technology]] and vocational skills - [[healthcare]], drug and alcohol [[counselling]], and offending behaviour courses. |
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The prison gardens are attractive, maintained by a small group of prisoners who take pride in their work. Over the last few years a wildlife area has been created in the grounds, which includes various plants, ponds, bug hotels etc. to attract the wildlife and there is also the successful hedgehog project which houses disabled or orphaned hedgehogs, working closely with the community. The prison has won the HMPPS Wildlife Award for the Closed and High Security Estate for 2 years running. |
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⚫ | Doncaster has links with the local community in order to reduce the chances of former prisoners re-offending. Schemes have been set up with local employers, landlords and other agencies to try to ensure ex-prisoners have a successful resettlement into the community. |
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⚫ | The prison has been nicknamed "Doncatraz" by |
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Doncaster Prison is overcrowded and frequently two prisoners are forced to share a cell designed for one. In July 2018 1,087 prisoners fitted into spaces designed for 738. Overcrowding leads to increased assaults on staff and on other prisoners.<ref>[https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/news/concerns-over-levels-of-overcrowding-in-doncaster-jails-263363 Concerns over levels of overcrowding in Doncaster jails]</ref> |
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The prison underwent an inspection in 2019, the Report is yet to be published and the IMB (Independent Monitoring Board) are due to release their 2018/2019 Annual Report early 2020. |
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Jordan Hullock aged 19 died while imprisoned at Doncaster prison in 2915. The prion is run by [[Serco]]. Hullock had number of physical conditions but died of meningitis, his health was for several days so bad that staff raised concerns with senior management but little was done. [[Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust|Nottinghamshire NHS Foundation Trust]] was responsible for prison healthcare at the time. Hullock had a heart condition which was at first overlooked though this information was given to the prison. He stated he felt unwell, he stopped eating and drinking and became dehydrated, incontinent and immobile, fell to the floor several times. It appears the prison treated Hullock's condition as psychiatric, ignoring his raised body temperature and low blood pressure. It was a week before a GP saw Hullock, after which he was transferred urgently to hospital where he died. When Hullock stopped communicating his mother phoned and emailed the prison many times but this did not help.<ref>[https://www.inquest.org.uk/jordan-hullock-opens Inquest to explore extraordinary lack of response to ill health of teenager Jordan Hullock at HMP Doncaster]</ref> An inquest jury found the cause of death was Bacterial Meningitis, pneumonia and his heart condition (Aortic Stenosis). The jury decided prison staff should have done more to get a GP to see Hullock earlier. The jury also stated, “The facts show serious failures in the medical attention given to the deceased following his collapse on 23 June and prior to being seen by the doctor on 24 June 2015.” Hullock's mother, Marie Hullock, said, “Not being informed of our child’s admission to hospital denied us of the chance to say goodbye. We cannot believe the inhuman and degrading treatment he received while in Doncaster prison. Four years on we are still devastated and angry that we have lost our loving son. We have persisted with this battle to try to get some answers and justice, not only for Jordan losing his life, but for the days and days of suffering he endured whilst he was ridiculously poorly in HMP Doncaster.<ref>[https://www.inquest.org.uk/jordan-hullock-closes Teenager whose meningitis and heart condition was overlooked was failed by HMP Doncaster healthcare staff, inquest finds]</ref> |
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==Notable former inmates== |
==Notable former inmates== |
Revision as of 09:33, 18 January 2020
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Location | Doncaster, England |
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Status | Operational |
Security class | Category B |
Capacity | 1145 (February 2009) |
Opened | 1994 |
Managed by | Serco |
Director | Jerry Spencer |
HM Prison Doncaster, is a Category B men's private prison, located in the Marshgate area of Doncaster in South Yorkshire, England. The prison is operated by Serco.
History
Doncaster Prison was built on the site of Doncaster Power Station, and opened in 1994. Management of the prison was originally contracted out by the Home Office to Premier Prison Services Ltd, a joint venture between Serco and US company Wackenhut Corrections. In 2005, Serco bought out Wackenhut and now runs the prison alone.
In 1999, the then Home Secretary, Jack Straw, was criticised for awarding Doncaster Prison a Charter Mark, when it emerged that Doncaster had the worst suicide record of any prison in England and Wales. Jack Straw defended his decision as an "unfortunate coincidence of timing".[1]
Classified as a 'local remand' prison, Doncaster can hold 1,145 prisoners, considerably more than its original design envisaged. Accommodation at the prison comprises three Houseblocks, each Houseblock has 4 wings and each wing can hold a maximum of 90 prisoners. Prisoners requiring a high level of support for mental health conditions or learning disabilities have separate accommodation in “the Loft” and prisoners needing social care reside in the Social Care Unit.
HMIP inspection reports claim that Doncaster Prison is overcrowded; this is due to the prison being designed to hold 738 prisoners, it now has a capacity of 1145 which means cells designed to hold one person now hold two. This issue will never change unless the operational capacity is reduced or an additional Houseblock is built.
The prison provides education – literacy, numeracy, information technology and vocational skills - healthcare, drug and alcohol counselling, and offending behaviour courses.
The prison gardens are attractive, maintained by a small group of prisoners who take pride in their work. Over the last few years a wildlife area has been created in the grounds, which includes various plants, ponds, bug hotels etc. to attract the wildlife and there is also the successful hedgehog project which houses disabled or orphaned hedgehogs, working closely with the community. The prison has won the HMPPS Wildlife Award for the Closed and High Security Estate for 2 years running.
Doncaster has links with the local community in order to reduce the chances of former prisoners re-offending. Schemes have been set up with local employers, landlords and other agencies to try to ensure ex-prisoners have a successful resettlement into the community.
The prison has been nicknamed "Doncatraz" by prisoners and locals, in reference to the famous Alcatraz prison, in San Francisco Bay as it lies between branches of the River Don, River Don Navigation and River Cheswold and appears to be on an 'island'.
The prison underwent an inspection in 2019, the Report is yet to be published and the IMB (Independent Monitoring Board) are due to release their 2018/2019 Annual Report early 2020.
Notable former inmates
- Prince Naseem Hamed, former boxing world champion, jailed for driving dangerously.[citation needed]
- Baron Ahmed, a member of the House of Lords, jailed for driving dangerously.[2]
Film and TV links
- During one episode of the Channel 4 cookery show The F-Word in 2006, Gordon Ramsay cooked in Doncaster Prison for its inmates. He challenged prisoner Kieron Tarff to an onion-chopping race, which Ramsay lost. The chef was so impressed by Tarff that he offered him a job at his restaurant when he would be released in 2007.[3]
References
- ^ "Fury over suicide jail's Charter Mark". BBC News. 26 January 1999. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ Adetunji, Jo (12 March 2009). "Labour peer freed by court of appeal in dangerous driving case". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 12 March 2009.
- ^ "Tasty offer from TV chef to convict". WACS2000. Archived from the original on 30 September 2006. Retrieved 3 January 2007.