Ranby was converted in the early 1970s from its original use as a World War II British Army camp. Some of the army billet accommodation remains at the prison today. Some purpose built accommodation was added to the complex in 1980s, and two further wings were opened in February 1996. Two more wings of the prison were opened in Summer 1998, and a further wing was opened in March 2008, with capacity for an extra 60 prisoners. The prison has been criticized for its conditions: in 2002, a study by the Prison Reform Trust found that prisoners were not always offered privacy from their cell mates while using the toilets, which they labelled as "degrading". Two years later, the Independent Monitoring Board stated that the Prison was overcrowded and had problems with safety standards. The Board reported that vulnerable prisoners' safety in particular was being put at risk, especially at night, while also praising the prison for its work in education, physical education and chaplaincy. In 2005 the Board called for a new wing to replace the oldest part of the prison. A 2007 inspection report from Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons raised concerns about security and drug use at Ranby Prison. The report also criticised the prison's anti-bullying programmes, accommodation and resettlement work. A further report in 2012 noted strengths is staff-prisoner relations, resettlement, vocational training and work environment for prisoners, but concerns about that a quarter of prisoners were locked in their cells, the availability of debt and financial advice services, a number of unscreened toilets, insufficient efforts to reduce violence and self-harm, and high levels of drug and alcohol availability. They were also concerned about the health care provision.
Prison accommodations
Ranby is a Category C training prison for sentenced adult males. Accommodation at the prison is divided between 11 wings:
A Wing - places for 192 prisoners in spurred single cell accommodation. Includes a drug-free unit
B Wing - places for 77 enhanced prisoners in refurbished army billets. Snooker/Games Room and a separate TV room on each billet
C Wing - places for 60 prisoners in 30 double cells. A quieter wing for more stable prisoners
D Wing - places for 116 prisoners in a mixture of single and double cells with integral sanitation
E Wing - places for 116 prisoners in a mixture of single and double cells with integral sanitation
F Wing - places for 116 prisoners in a mixture of single and double cells with integral sanitation
G Wing - places for 116 prisoners in a mixture of single and double cells with integral sanitation
H Wing - places for 40 prisoners on drug rehabilitation in cells with integral shower and toilet
I Wing - places for 40 enhanced prisoners in single cells with integral shower and toilet
J Wing - places for 180 prisoners in a mixture of single and double cells, some of which are constructed to safer cell standards
K Wing - places for 180 prisoners in a mixture of single and double cells, some of which are constructed to safer cell standards
HMP Ranby provides farms, gardens and workshop places to occupy inmates. Education at the prison is mainly focused on basic and key skills. Other facilities at the prison include a gym and a multi-faith chaplaincy.
