Prison categories
A guide to prison security categories in England and Wales. It explains Categories A-D, open conditions, restricted status, remand, women and young people, and how categorisation, transfers and reviews work.
A prison category is a security and risk management decision. It is not a label based simply on the offence, sentence length or behaviour in prison.
The aim is to hold each person in the lowest security category that is appropriate to the risks they present. Decisions consider the risk of escape or absconding, the likely harm if someone escaped, risks to the public, and risks to safety, security or good order in prison.
Security category is not the same as prison type
The terms Category A, B, C and D describe security categories for adult and young adult men.
Other terms describe the role of a prison:
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A local prison commonly receives people directly from court and serves local courts.
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A training prison commonly provides longer term work, education, training and offending behaviour programmes.
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A resettlement prison focuses on preparation for release.
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An open prison is a prison operating open conditions for people assessed as suitable for them.
A prison can have more than one role. A person’s placement depends on their security category as well as their sentence, health needs, programme needs, family links, available space and other operational factors.
The categories for adult and young adult men
Category A
Category A is the highest security category for adult men. It applies where escape would be highly dangerous to the public, police or national security.
Category B
Category B applies where Category A security is not required, but escape must still be made very difficult.
Category C
Category C applies where a person cannot be trusted in open conditions but is considered unlikely to try to escape.
Category D
Category D is an open prison category for people who have been assessed as suitable to be trusted in open conditions. Open prisons have fewer physical security measures than closed prisons, but they remain prisons.
The current HMPPS policy framework explains the assessment approach for adult and young adult men: Security categorisation policy framework.
Does Category D mean someone can leave prison?
No. A person in open conditions does not automatically have permission to leave prison for work, education, family contact or another activity.
Some people may be approved for temporary release or outside activity. This is a separate decision. It depends on individual risk assessment, eligibility, the purpose of the activity, prison rules and any conditions set by HMPPS. Permission can be restricted, changed or withdrawn.
Women in prison
The women’s estate is not a simple mirror of the adult men’s Category A-D system. Women are generally held in either closed or open conditions.
In the highest security context, some women may be given restricted status. This is used where escape would create a very serious danger to the public, police or national security. Restricted status is not simply another name for Category A: Category A is the adult men’s highest security category, while restricted status is used for women and young adults in the high security context.
For further information, see GOV.UK: identifying potential high-security prisoners.
Young adults and children
The adult categorisation framework covers adult men and young adult men. Young adults are generally people aged 18 to 20.
Children under 18 are held in the youth custody estate, which has separate rules and arrangements. Do not assume that adult prison categories apply to children.
A young offender institution can hold different groups depending on the establishment and its designation. See the GOV.UK collection of prison and probation policy frameworks.
What if someone is on remand?
A person on remand has not been convicted or sentenced for the case that brought them into custody. Their placement and security arrangements are assessed from reception and may change as further information becomes available.
Remand prisoners are covered by a separate policy framework. They should not be described as though every person on remand has already received a final security category. See GOV.UK: remand prisoners policy framework.
Can a prison category change?
Yes. Category decisions are reviewed over time. They may also be reconsidered when important circumstances change, such as new information about risk, behaviour in custody, sentence progression, security concerns or a proposed move to another type of prison.
A lower category is not automatic. The decision is based on the person’s current risks and the information available at the time.
Is a transfer the same as a change of category?
No. A category decision is a risk assessment. A transfer is a move from one prison to another.
A change in category does not guarantee a transfer. Equally, a person may be transferred without a change in category. Placement decisions can depend on available space, healthcare, programmes, family links, security and operational needs.
GOV.UK explains that people may be moved to another prison, including one with a different security category: GOV.UK: arriving at prison.
What if someone disagrees with their category?
A person who disagrees with a categorisation or re-categorisation decision should ask for the reasons and use the prison complaints process.
It can help to explain clearly:
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what information is said to be wrong, incomplete or out of date;
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what evidence supports a different assessment; and
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why the current category is said to be no longer appropriate.
The public guidance describes the usual challenge route as a complaint through the prison complaint system, rather than a separate national online appeal service. See GOV.UK: Your A–D guide on prison categories.
A solicitor or other representative may be able to help, particularly where the decision concerns high security, restricted status, open conditions, serious factual errors or a related parole issue.
Key points to remember
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Prison category is based on individual risk, not automatically on the offence or sentence.
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Category and prison type are different things.
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Category A-D applies to adult and young adult men; women and children are covered by different arrangements.
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Open conditions do not mean unrestricted freedom or automatic temporary release.
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Categories can be reviewed, but a lower category is not guaranteed.
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A change of category and a transfer are separate decisions.
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If you think a decision is wrong, ask for the reasons and use the prison complaints process.
Official sources
This guide provides general information, not legal advice. Security category, prison placement and temporary release decisions depend on the individual circumstances and current policy.
About this information
Last updated:
Updates to this page
This updated guide explains that prison category is an individual security and risk assessment, not a label based solely on the offence or sentence. It separates security category from prison type, clarifies the position for women, young adults, children and people on remand, and explains that open conditions, transfers and temporary release are not automatic.