Birmingham (HM Prison)

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HM Prison Birmingham, known locally as Winson Green Prison is a Victorian local prison in the Winson Green area of Birmingham, England.

The prison was built in 1849 for adult male prisoners. It serves the Crown and Magistrates' Courts of Birmingham, Stafford and Wolverhampton and the Magistrates' Courts of Burton, Cannock, Lichfield, Rugeley, Sutton Coldfield and Tamworth.

It has a capacity of 1450 prisoners, both convicted and on remand (as of 31 January 2006). Recently the prison has undergone a period of considerable change as a result of a multi-million pound investment programme by the Prison Service. 450 additional prisoner places have been added together with new workshops, educational facilities, a new healthcare centre and gymnasium as well as extensions and improvements to existing facilities.

Contents 1 Governors 2 Treatment for substance use 3 Notable inmates 4 External links 5 References

[edit] Governors

• 1849 - 1851 Alexander Maconochie
• Chris Scott
• 2000 - 2007 Mike Shann OBE
• 2007 - now James Shanley, present governor

[edit] Treatment for substance use

There are a number of services available at HMP Birmingham for individuals experiencing substance use problems.

• The establishment is home to one of the larger CARAT teams in the country^[1]. This service offers prisoners counselling, assessment, referral, advice and throughcare^[2].
• The Short Duration Programme (SDP) is an accredited four week Cognitive Behavioural Therapy programme run to support those individuals motivated to change their substance use.
• Inmates assessed as being suitable may receive a medical detox/maintenance including subutex and methadone. Prisoners receiving these prescriptions will reside on a specific detox wing.
• The Voluntary Testing Unit (VTU) is a service provided for those individuals who have used substances in the past, but are making efforts to remain substance free^[3]. These individuals will receive more regular, sporadic drug tests to act as a motivational tool.
• Although not specifically a drug treatment, HMP Birmingham has a designated healthy living wing. All inmates on this wing will be signed up to the VTU.

[edit] Notable inmates

• Lee Hughes, former West Bromwich Albion striker, spent the early part of his six-year jail term for dangerous driving at the prison in 2004.
• Ozzy Osbourne, later frontman of the heavy metal band Black Sabbath, served six weeks after he was arrested in the late 1960s.
• Fred West, alleged serial killer who arrived on remand in May 1994. He committed suicide in his cell on New Years Day 1995, before he could be brought to trial.

[edit] External links

• HM Prison Service page
• 2002 inspection report
• BBC News (2001): Jail 'among worst in UK'

[edit] References

v • d • e Buildings in Birmingham, England Highrise (in height order): BT Tower • 10 Holloway Circus  • Chamberlain Clock Tower  • Alpha Tower  • Orion Building  • The Rotunda  • 103 Colmore Row  • Five Ways Tower  • Centre City Tower  • 1 Snow Hill Plaza  • Quayside Tower  • Colmore Gate  • The McLaren Building  • Metropolitan House  • Edgbaston House  • Post & Mail Building  • Jury's Inn Birmingham Notable lowrise: 1-7 Constitution Hill • 17 & 19 Newhall Street  • Birmingham Assay Office  • Baskerville House  • Central Library  • Council House  • Curzon Street railway station  • Great Western Arcade  • ICC  • The Mailbox  • Methodist Central Hall  • Millennium Point  • NIA  • The Old Crown  • Paradise Forum  • Birmingham Proof House  • Sarehole Mill  • Symphony Hall  • Town Hall  • Victoria Law Courts Major railway stations: Moor Street station  • New Street station  • Snow Hill station Major complexes: Brindleyplace • Bull Ring, Birmingham  • Pallasades Shopping Centre Sports venues: Alexander Stadium • Edgbaston Cricket Ground  • St. Andrews  • Villa Park List of tallest buildings and structures in Birmingham  • List of Birmingham board schools  • Listed buildings in Birmingham

Coordinates: 52°29′35.54″N, 1°56′14.05″W