HMIP Prisoner Survey: Adults in England and Wales, 2000-2023

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The HMIP (His Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons) Prisoner Surveys (also formerly known as Detainee Surveys) are part of the Inspectorate's duties to inspect prisons. Surveys of prisoners have been carried out systematically since 2000 at institutions being inspected, to gain important insight into detainees' experiences of offender management whilst in custody.

Prisoners are issued with the survey questionnaire to return to the HMIP team, which processes the data to inform inspections of individual institutions and the HMIP annual reports.

The survey is grouped into topics/themes of questions with response categories, as well as providing space for prisoners to add additional comments (such text comments are not included in these datasets).

The specific objectives of the HMIP Prisoner Survey series are as follows:

• to produce data that are comparable as possible over time and between custodial institutions;
• to provide data for a large and representative sample of adult prisoners in England and Wales. So far, over 20 years' worth of data has been collected. The survey conducted in 2020/21 was subject to HMIP COVID-19 restrictions. 

Further information can be found on the HMIP Prisoner Survey webpage.

End User Licence and Special Licence versions

Two versions of the HMIP Prisoner Survey are held at UKDS: an End User Licence (EUL) version (SN 9161) that is subject to registration and standard access conditions, and a more detailed Special Licence (SL) version (SN 9068), which has additional access restrictions. The document 'end_user_licence_group_changes', available with the EUL version, SN 9161, details the differences between the two versions. Users should obtain the EUL version first to see whether it is suitable for their needs before considering making an application for access to the SL version.

Main topics

Topics covered include demographic categories, functional type of institution, detainees' experiences of arrival, conditions in prison, support needs and access to legal rights, issues of safety and behavioural management, education and preparation for release.

The data file also contains some sample and administrative variables from the inspection. There are no weighting variables.

List of Topics/Themes (section titles may vary across survey years)

• A Administrative data derived from the inspection
• B Background information
• C Arrival and reception
• D First night and induction
• E On the wing
• F Food and canteen
• G Relationship with staff
• H Faith
• J Contact with family and friends
• K Time out of cell
• L Applications, complaints, and legal rights
• M Health care
• N Other support needs
• P Alcohol and drugs
• Q Safety
• R Behaviour management
• S Education, skills, and work
• T Planning and progression
• U Preparation for release
• V More about you
• W Final questions about this prison