HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) exists to ensure people serve their sentences given by courts, both in prisons and on probation in the community.
What we do
- Protect the public by running a safe and secure Prison and Probation Service
- Rehabilitate people through education and employment
- Provide support to stop people reoffending
How HMPPS works
HMPPS, an agency of the Ministry of Justice (GOV.UK, opens in a new tab), is made up of:
- HM Prison Service
- the Probation Service
- the Youth Custody Service
- headquarters
Learn more about what we do (GOV.UK, opens in a new tab)
HM Prison Service runs all 105 public prisons in England and Wales.
Part of our role is to keep the public safe by holding offenders securely. The other part of our role is to support and educate people in prison to prepare them for a life without offending once they’re released. This involves offering:
- education, training and employment opportunities
- therapeutic programmes to help them tackle the issues that led to their offence
Everyone who works in a prison has a part to play in making these things happen.
The Probation Service plays a vital role, supervising offenders in the community while managing risk to protect the public.
Working across multiple sites in 12 regions of England and Wales, we’re responsible for sentence planning, accredited programmes, interventions and unpaid work.
The YCS aims to create a safe, decent and nurturing environment that provides outstanding levels of care and support for all children in custody.
We’re responsible for the operational running of (public sector) sites across the youth secure estate, for children and young people between 10 and 18 in England and Wales.
Our HQ oversee the running of the department, creating tools and learning to support the Prison Service, Probation Service and YCS.
There are a range of professions you can join. Whether it’s an apprenticeship to develop your skills, or if you’re a seasoned professional looking to work in a department that has real impact.