Open Prisons in the UK: Category D Eligibility, ROTL and Absconding
By Daniel Hockey · Checked against GOV.UK and legislation · Last updated 8 October 2026 · 8 min read
The short answer: Open prisons in the UK hold prisoners assessed as Category D (men) or Open (women and young adults): people who present a low risk and can be managed in low-security conditions. In England and Wales, most people on fixed-term sentences become eligible within 5 years of their earliest release date. Life and IPP prisoners need the Justice Secretary's approval, usually after a Parole Board recommendation. Open prisons are built around release on temporary licence (ROTL) for work, training and family contact. Absconding is a criminal offence with a maximum of 2 years and usually rules out a return to open conditions.
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| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Category for open prisons | Category D (adult men); Open (adult women and young offenders) |
| Usual eligibility, fixed-term sentences | Within 5 years of your earliest release date |
| Life and IPP sentences | Decided by the Justice Secretary, usually after a Parole Board recommendation |
| Reviews in closed conditions | Every 12 months, then every 6 months once under 3 years from release |
| Types of temporary release | Day release, overnight release, childcare licence, special purpose licence |
| Failing to return | Offence with a maximum of 2 years in prison |
| Policy | HMPPS Security Categorisation Policy Framework, April 2025 |
What is a Category D open prison?
Every adult man in prison in England and Wales is given a security category from A to D. Women and young adults are categorised differently, with "Open" as the lowest level. Our guide to prison categories explains each one.
| Category | What it means |
|---|---|
| A | Escape would be highly dangerous to the public, police or national security |
| B | Needs closed conditions with extra security measures |
| C | Needs standard closed conditions, without extra security |
| D | Low risk, or previous risks now manageable in low security |
Open prisons are low-security. People live with more freedom and responsibility, and many work or train outside the prison on temporary release. The aim is to test trust and prepare people for life after release.
Who is eligible for an open prison?
Fixed-term (determinate) sentences
You are normally eligible to be considered for Category D when you are within 5 years of your earliest release date. That is your parole eligibility date if you have one, or otherwise your conditional release date. A governor can approve open conditions with more than 5 years left, but only in individual circumstances.
Most extended sentences have a parole eligibility date, so eligibility runs from that date.
Life and IPP sentences
The prison does not decide. The Secretary of State for Justice, through the Public Protection Casework Section, decides whether you are suitable. This usually follows a recommendation from the Parole Board at a review. Our guide to the parole process explains how that works.
Who cannot go to open conditions
People who are excluded or face a strong presumption against
- Fixed-term prisoners with an absconding history: absconding from open conditions, failing to return from ROTL, committing an offence on ROTL, or escaping or attempting to escape, within two years of the relevant date or more than once in the current sentence
- Prisoners currently on the escape list (E-List)
- Foreign nationals whose appeal rights against deportation are exhausted
- People convicted of certain terrorist offences, unless circumstances are exceptional
People who are partway through an offending behaviour programme should finish it before moving. Outstanding charges or confiscation proceedings do not automatically rule you out, but they are taken into account.
How the decision is made
Categorisation reviews
| Where you are | How often your category is reviewed |
|---|---|
| Closed prison, more than 3 years to release | Every 12 months |
| Closed prison, under 3 years to release | Every 6 months |
| Open prison | No routine review; you can be moved back at any time if risk increases |
The prison must help you make representations before a scheduled review. A final suitability check must be done no more than 7 days before any move to open conditions.
Victims
If a victim is in the Victim Contact Scheme, their victim liaison officer must be told when you are being considered for open conditions. They have 14 days to respond before the decision is finalised.
Challenging a decision
You can challenge a categorisation decision through the prison complaints process, normally within 28 days. The decision can be reconsidered if policy was not followed, relevant information was missed or facts were wrong. A more senior person usually takes the fresh decision. If you also want to move for family reasons, see our guide to prison transfer requests.
Release on temporary licence (ROTL)
ROTL lets risk-assessed prisoners leave the prison for set purposes and return. It is not available to remand prisoners, Category A prisoners or people on the escape list. Category B prisoners cannot get resettlement day or overnight release.
| Type of ROTL | Purpose | Eligibility and limits |
|---|---|---|
| Resettlement day release (RDR) | Work, training, family ties and sentence plan activities | From open conditions: from arrival, subject to risk assessment. From closed conditions: the later of 24 months before release or halfway through the custodial period |
| Resettlement overnight release (ROR) | Time at your release address to rebuild family links or attend interviews | Must follow successful day release. Usually one release per 28 days, no more than four nights |
| Childcare resettlement licence (CRL) | For the primary carer of a child under 18 | No minimum period. Up to once a week, with one overnight release of no more than four nights per 28 days |
| Special purpose licence (SPL) | Exceptional events: compassionate visits, medical appointments, marriage, court or legal meetings | No minimum period. Overnight absences usually no more than four nights in 28 days |
How ROTL is approved
- You apply in writing.
- The prison asks your offender manager, the police where needed and any victim liaison officer for information.
- A board recommends a decision after a risk assessment.
- A separate decision-maker approves or refuses.
- You receive a licence with conditions. Boards review it at least every 6 months.
The test is whether release would create an unacceptable risk of offending or of breaking the licence.
Restricted ROTL
Life, IPP and extended sentence prisoners, offenders of particular concern, some terrorist offenders and people assessed as high risk of serious harm are subject to "restricted ROTL". This needs open conditions, senior sign-off, police consultation and closer monitoring.
Working outside on ROTL
Risk-assessed prisoners within two years of release can work outside the prison on day release, full time or part time. Employees on release have full employee rights. Our guide to prison jobs, education and training covers work inside and outside.
Open prisons in England and Wales
These open prisons are described as open on their official GOV.UK pages. Other prisons have open units or resettlement roles, so check the full GOV.UK list of prisons in England and Wales.
| Prison | Who it holds | Location |
|---|---|---|
| HMP Ford | Adult men | Arundel, West Sussex |
| HMP Leyhill | Adult men | Near Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire |
| HMP North Sea Camp | Adult men | Boston, Lincolnshire |
| HMP Standford Hill | Adult men | Eastchurch, near Sheerness, Kent |
| HMP/YOI Thorn Cross | Adult and young men | Warrington, Cheshire |
| HMP Kirkham | Adult men | Kirkham, Lancashire |
| HMP Kirklevington Grange | Adult men resettling in the north-east | Yarm, Stockton-on-Tees |
| HMP/YOI Askham Grange | Women | Near York |
| HMP/YOI East Sutton Park | Women | Near Maidstone, Kent |
Our women in prison guide explains how women are categorised and where they are held.
What happens if you abscond from an open prison?
Walking out of an open prison, or not coming back from ROTL, has serious consequences.
The criminal offence
Under section 1 of the Prisoners (Return to Custody) Act 1995, it is an offence to stay unlawfully at large after temporary release ends without a reasonable excuse. It is also an offence to ignore a recall order. The maximum penalty is 2 years' imprisonment in the Crown Court, or the general magistrates' limit in the magistrates' court.
Other consequences
- You are likely to be returned to closed conditions straight away
- An absconding or ROTL failure within two years, or more than once in your sentence, blocks a return to open conditions for fixed-term prisoners
- For life and IPP prisoners, it is likely to harm future parole reviews
- Any new sentence and lost progress can push back your release
If something goes wrong while you are out, such as a missed bus or illness, contact the prison immediately. A genuine reasonable excuse is treated very differently from a deliberate failure to return.
How to prepare for a move to open conditions
- Know your dates. Work out when you are within 5 years of your earliest release date.
- Keep a clean record. Adjudications, drug finds and absconding history all count against you.
- Complete your sentence plan. Finish any offending behaviour programme before asking to move.
- Make written representations before your review, with evidence of work, education and behaviour.
- For life and IPP sentences, ask your solicitor to address open conditions at your parole review.
- Plan for ROTL. Think about work, training and family contact you could build towards release. See our guide to preparing for release.
For families
Open prisons often make it easier to stay in touch, and day or overnight release can let someone spend time at home before release. Visits still need to be booked. Our guide to booking a prison visit explains how. If you are the primary carer of children and in custody yourself, ask about the childcare resettlement licence.
Frequently asked questions
Who goes to open prisons in the UK?
Prisoners assessed as low risk: Category D men, and women and young adults categorised as Open. Most fixed-term prisoners are considered when they are within 5 years of their earliest release date. Life and IPP prisoners need the Justice Secretary's approval.
How long before release do you go to an open prison?
There is no set time. Fixed-term prisoners are usually eligible from 5 years before their earliest release date, but many move later depending on reviews, behaviour and space. Reviews happen every 6 months once you are under 3 years from release.
Can you go straight to a Category D prison?
It depends on your sentence, offence and risk. Your category is set at the start of your sentence and reviewed after that. Fixed-term prisoners within 5 years of their earliest release date can be considered for Category D if their risk is low.
What is ROTL?
Release on temporary licence lets risk-assessed prisoners leave prison for set reasons and return. The four types are resettlement day release, resettlement overnight release, the childcare resettlement licence and the special purpose licence.
What happens if you walk out of an open prison?
You commit an offence with a maximum of 2 years in prison and will usually be returned to closed conditions. An absconding history also normally stops fixed-term prisoners going back to open conditions.
Can life sentence prisoners go to open prisons?
Yes. Life and IPP prisoners can move to open conditions before release, and this is a common step towards parole. The Parole Board usually makes a recommendation, and the Justice Secretary makes the final decision.
Can you work outside an open prison?
Yes, if you are approved for ROTL. Risk-assessed prisoners within two years of release can work outside on day release, full time or part time, with full employee rights.
Sources and how we checked this page
This page was written by Daniel Hockey and checked on 8 October 2026 against:
- HMPPS: Security Categorisation Policy Framework (re-issued 28 April 2025)
- GOV.UK: Security categorisation policy framework, publication page
- HMPPS: Release on Temporary Licence Policy Framework
- GOV.UK: Release on temporary licence, publication page
- Prisoners (Return to Custody) Act 1995, section 1 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Parole Board: How we make our decisions
- GOV.UK: Employing prisoners and ex-offenders
- GOV.UK: Prisons in England and Wales
- GOV.UK: Ford Prison
- GOV.UK: Leyhill Prison
- GOV.UK: North Sea Camp Prison
- GOV.UK: Standford Hill Prison
- GOV.UK: Thorn Cross Prison
- GOV.UK: Kirkham Prison
- GOV.UK: Kirklevington Grange Prison
- GOV.UK: Askham Grange Prison
- GOV.UK: East Sutton Park Prison
This page is general information about the law in England and Wales, not legal advice. Every case depends on its facts. Speak to a qualified solicitor about your situation.