Chelmsford Prison

Tel: 01245 552000 – 200 Springfield Road, Chelmsford, Essex CM2 6LQ

HMP Chelmsford started life as a county jail back in 1830. It is now a category B prison, holding both adult males and young offenders. Two new blocks were constructed in 1996 to try to address the problem of over-crowding, and in 2013, it was announced that certain older parts of the prison would be closed. Now, the prison has the capacity to hold 745 inmates. If you’d like to find out how to get to HMP Chelmsford.

Tel: 01245 552000

Operational capacity: 745

200 Springfield Road, Chelmsford, Essex CM2 6LQ

Prison Phone packages reduce the cost of calls from HMP Chelmsford by around 75% helping inmates stretch their PINS phone credit further.

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Here’s some facts about Chelmsford Prison

HMP Chelmsford is a category B men’s prison and young offenders institution in Chelmsford, Essex. Opened in 1830, the prison holds up to 745 mainly adult males.

According to the IMB, bullying, violence and self-harm have increased at the prison due to staff shortages.

The prison has recently been adding dogs to the security protocol, to increase security measures after a large upscaling in violence.

Children of imprisoned fathers in HMP/YOI Chelmsford benefit from a unique library plan which hands out world book day books.

The older part of the establishment has four wings, A, B, C and D, running off a central hub. The segregation unit is on A wing and vulnerable prisoners have separate accommodation on D wing. The newer part of the prison has a 12-bed, 24-hour health care unit (known as the extra care unit). E wing provides the integrated drug treatment system. F wing is the first night and induction unit and G wing holds a mixed population, including older prisoners.

To view the latest inspection report, click here.

Visiting hours are between 14:15 – 16:00 (Mon-Thu), 9:30 – 11:00 & 14:30 – 15:45 (Sat), and 14:30 – 15:45 (Sun).

More Facts

FACT 1

In 1999, the Chief Inspector of Prisons found HMP Chelmsford to be unacceptably dirty, and also revealed that officers were failing to respond to cell alarms. A year later, a further report said conditions were ‘poor and cramped’.