HM Prison Eastwood Park
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| Location | Falfield, Gloucestershire |
|---|---|
| Governor | Paul Stickler |
HM Prison Eastwood Park is a women's closed category prison, located in the village of Falfield in Gloucestershire, England. The prison is operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service.
History
Eastwood Park Prison originally opened as a male juvenile Detention Centre, and then became a Young Offenders Institution. In March 1996 Eastwood Park was converted into a women's prison, receiving staff and prisoners brought from the old Pucklechurch Prison.
In September 1998 the Chief inspector of Prisons issued a report warning that Eastwood Park Prison was keeping a number of inmates in cells that were below the nationally recommended standard size.[1]
In May 2002 a further inspection of Eastwood Park found that inmates were at serious risk of suicide and self-harm. Referring to Eastwood as "an establishment in crisis", the inspection report noted that staff was having trouble creating decent conditions for its inmates, among whom 56 women had been identified as suicide risks in a single month.[2] In that same month, the report said, 47 separate cases of self-harm had occurred.[2]
A further report in March 2004 stated that the prison was still facing "major challenges". However the report also noted that prisoners felt safer at Eastwood Park than in women's prisons generally.[3]
The prison today
Eastwood Park Prison offers education courses in Basic Skills, wider Key Skills, Information Technology, Cookery, Diversity, Salon Services, Manicure, Preparation for Work, Drug and Alcohol Awareness and Industrial Cleaning. The prison also offers employment with work-based qualifications. In addition Eastwood Park has a gym for physical education as well as recreational gym.
The Family and Friends Centre is the visitors centre at Eastwood Park Prison, and has facilities including toilets, a refreshments counter, information points and a small play area for children.