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  1. What we found

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HMP & YOI Doncaster

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Inspection report - Doncaster (PDF, 1.4 MB)

Report on an unannounced inspection of HMP &YOI Doncaster by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons (8–18 September 2025).

Bar graph visualising the healthy prison scores ratings for HMP and YOI Doncaster when it was inspected in 2022 and 2025. The scores remained stable across the two inspections; reasonably good for safety and respect, not sufficiently good for purposeful activity, and good for preparation for release.

What we found (Back to top)

Committed leadership and dedicated staff were driving progress at Doncaster. Nonetheless, the prison had problems to address including overcrowding, a lack of care for prisoners who might self-harm, insufficient places in education, skills and work, and inadequate oversight of some areas of health care. The number of prisoners without somewhere to live when released was also a concern.

Points to note: Among the many laudable initiatives at the prison were the appointment of a former drug user as the drug and alcohol specialist to strengthen demand reduction, and a range of opportunities to help fathers bond with their children.

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Easy read summary – Doncaster
(PDF, 765 KB)
Prisoner Survey Methodology and Results – Doncaster
(PDF, 377 KB)
Prisoner survey analysis (Excel workbook) – Doncaster
(XLSX, 392 KB)
Staff Survey Methodology and Results – Doncaster
(PDF, 200 KB)