Skip to content

All content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0, except where otherwise stated.

To view this licence, visit:
https://nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3

or write to:
Information Policy Team,
The National Archives,
Kew,
London TW9 4DU

or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.

This publication is available at:
https://hmiprisons.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk.

© Crown copyright

HMP/YOI Lincoln

Published:
Open document

Inspection report - Lincoln (PDF, 1.6 MB)

Report on an unannounced inspection of HMP/YOI Lincoln by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons (28 April – 15 May 2025).

Lincoln healthy prison scores

Bar chart illustrating the healthy prison scores for Lincoln in 2020 and 2025. The rating for purposeful activity had improved from 'not sufficiently good' to 'reasonably good'; the ratings in the other three categories - safety, respect and preparation for release - had remained 'reasonably good'.

What we found

Levels of violence, drug ingress and self-harm were lower than at similar prisons, and standards of behaviour and cleanliness on the wings were good. Prisoners were generally supported well by staff, education was good, and the reading strategy was engaging non- and low-level readers. The standard of decoration was high, and Bertie’s restaurant in the visits hall allowed prisoners and their families to dine together.

Although there were many positives, problems including the heating system, medicines handling procedures and the amount of time some prisoners spent locked up, needed to be addressed.

These files may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of any of these documents in a more accessible format, please email media@hmiprisons.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Easy read summary – Lincoln
(PDF, 977 KB)
Prisoner survey methodology and results – Lincoln
(PDF, 398 KB)
Prisoner survey analysis (Excel workbook) – Lincoln
(PDF, 722 KB)
Staff survey methodology and results – Lincoln
(PDF, 198 KB)