Altcourse (HM Prison)

All you want to know about Altcourse (HM Prison)

HM Prison Altcourse

Location:	Liverpool, Merseyside
Status:	Operational
Security class:	Category B Adult Male & Young Offenders Institution
Capacity:	1024 (2006)
Opened:	1997
Managed by:	G4S
Director:	John McLaughlin

HM Prison Altcourse is a Category B men's private prison and Young Offenders Institution, located in the Fazakerley area of Liverpool in Merseyside, England. The Prison is operated by G4S.

1 History
2 The prison today
3 References
4 External links

History

Altcourse Prison was opened in December 1997, being the first designed, constructed, managed and financed private prison in the United Kingdom. While early reports about the management of the Altcourse prison were favourable, the financing of the project drew criticism after it emerged that former owner GSL had managed to make a £10 million windfall from the contracts.^[1] In 2005 it was reported that Altcourse was the most overcrowded prison in England,^[2] with overcrowding being an issue at the prison ever since.

The prison today

Altcourse is a Category B local prison, receiving prisoners from the courts in Merseyside, Cheshire and North Wales. The prison accepts young offenders and adult male prisoners who are both sentenced and remanded by the courts. Accomodation at the prison comprises of six accomodation units, a First Night Centre, three Vocational Training residential units and the Healthcare Centre. The prison offers full-time education and night classes to inmates as well as workshops and offender management programmes.