Inverness

Role and background

HMP Inverness serves courts across the Highlands, Islands and Moray. Its catchment embraces widely separated rural and urban communities, making its role larger than the size of the establishment might suggest.

It manages adults and young people on remand, convicted adults serving shorter sentences and other prisoners awaiting allocation or held there for management reasons. Some of those temporarily accommodated are serving long sentences, including life. A short stay at Inverness therefore does not establish that someone is serving a short sentence.

This combination of an old physical footprint and a broad receiving function is central to understanding the prison. Its published design capacity is 93; that is a design figure, not a live population count.

Inside the prison and daily life

The present prison opened in 1902 after moving from Inverness Castle. The original external fronts of its accommodation have survived, while the internal arrangements and supporting buildings have changed. Additions have included a gate complex, workshops and laundry facilities, alongside modernisation of healthcare and catering areas.

Visiting and family contact

Visits require advance arrangements and acceptable identification. Families travelling from distant parts of the catchment should confirm the current instructions before setting off, particularly where journeys involve connections or long distances.

Practical advice before you make arrangements

Use Inverness's official page below for its current booking route, required identification, permitted items and travel instructions.

Confirm that the person is still at Inverness and that your visit has been accepted before making travel arrangements. Ask the prison in advance about disability access, medication or children's needs.