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 detention facilities.
HM Chief Inspector of Prisons is appointed from outside the Prison Service, for a term of five years. The Chief Inspector reports to Ministers on the treatment of prisoners and conditions in prisons in England and Wales.
The Prisons Inspectorate also has statutory responsibility to inspect all immigration removal centres and holding facilities. In addition, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons is invited to inspect the Military Corrective Training Centre in Colchester, prisons in Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and Isle of Man.
For information on the process of inspection and the structure and operation of the inspectorate, please read our inspection manual. Further guidance on the abbreviations and terms that may appear in our inspection reports can be found in our glossary.
