About Us: HMI Prisons' Statement of purpose
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons for England and Wales (HMI Prisons)
To provide independent scrutiny of the conditions for and treatment of prisoners and other detainees, promoting the concept of 'healthy prisons' in which staff work effectively to support prisoners and detainees to reduce reoffending or achieve other agreed outcomes.
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons for England and Wales (HMI Prisons) is an independent inspectorate which reports on conditions for and treatment of those in prison, young offender institutions and immigration removal centres.
HM Chief Inspector of Prisons is appointed from outside the Prison Service, for a term of five years. The Chief Inspector reports to the government on the treatment and conditions for prisoners in England and Wales and other matters.
The Prisons Inspectorate also has statutory responsiblility to inspect all immigration removal centres and holding facilities on behalf of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate and has recently been invited to regularly inspect the Military Corrective Training Centre in Colchester. In addition, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons is invited to inspect prisons in Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, Isle of Man and some Commonwealth dependent territories.
