The site was previously occupied by Parc Hospital, a psychiatric hospital. Parc Prison was procured a Private Finance Initiative contract in January 1996. The new prison, which was built by Costain Group at a cost of £82 million, opened in November 1997. However, from its opening, Parc Prison was beset with problems. Failures in the prison security technology, anti-English racism from Welsh inmates, and a high number of suicides were all highlighted as concerns by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons in a 1999 report. However, in March 2001, a new report from the Chief Inspector noted a major improvement in standards. In August 2004, the Independent Monitoring Board issued a report stating that Parc Prison had been rated as the worst-performing privately run prison in Wales and England. The report criticised the lack of separate healthcare facilities for juveniles at the prison, the inadequate level of dental provision for all prisoners, and issues of staff morale. In January 2013, the Ministry of Justice announced that an additional houseblock would be constructed at Parc Prison, increasing the overall capacity of the facility. In February 2014 a prisoner was found dead in his cell at the prison.
Current state
Parc Prison holds Remand and Sentenced Category B Adult males, juveniles and young offenders. All cells in the prison are equipped with in-cell sanitation, natural and forced ventilation, and in-cell electrics. The prison states that all wings are equipped with hot-water boilers, PIN telephones, pool and table tennis tables, showers, laundry facilities, and association areas. Education at Parc Prison is provided by an in-houseeducation department. A range of subjects are offered including English, maths, information technology, art, music, hospitality and languages, plus a range of vocational qualifications. Qualifications up to and including Open University courses are available. The prison's industries complex comprises nine workshops including carpentry, metalwork, graphic design and print, and industrial cleaning. All other workshops are dedicated to manufacturing contracts with local companies. Other facilities at the prison include a library, gym, fitness room, and a multi-faith chaplaincy. The prison's visits hall has a canteen and crèche.
