Correctional Research Symposium 2025

The Northern Ireland Prison Service, in collaboration with the Irish Prison Service, has arranged four prison facilities that participants can choose from. These facilities include Northern Ireland’s only high security facility and a joint facility for young males and female prisoners. For those staying on after the conference you can indicate which facility you would like to visit when registering online for this event, but please note that this is not a booking - you can only sign-up at the venue. Please note that spaces are limited.

Schedule

Friday, 16 May 2025

Maghaberry Prison visit times: 8:30 AM - 2:00 PM.
Magilligan Prison visit times: 8:00 AM – 2:30 PM.
Hydebank Wood Secure College and Women’s Prison visit times: 8:45 AM – 1:30 PM.
Mountjoy Prison visit times: 8:45 AM– 4:00 AM. This will include a stop on the return journey at Dublin International Airport at 1:30 PM.

Maghaberry Prison

Maghaberry is a largest of Northern Ireland’s three custodial facilities. It is a modern high security prison, which accommodates over 1,200 adult male long-term, sentenced and remand prisoners, in both separated and integrated conditions.Maghaberry provides person centred support to those committed to custody, allowing them to gain or build on their existing Educational and Vocational skills and offering the opportunity to engage in offence focused work. There is an emphasis on positive family contact and there are a number of programmes run in conjunction with voluntary community based organisations to assist men in custody to become better parents and strengthen their links with their families whilst they are in custody. This assists with their reintegration on release.Maghaberry is located near Lisburn, which is approximately 25 miles from Belfast City Centre.

The visit to Maghaberry Prison will begin at 8:30 AM at the Conference Centre. Participants will return to the Conference Centre at approximately 2:00 PM. Please ensure you arrive 15 minutes before departure time.

Maghaberry Prison Maghaberry Prison

Magilligan Prison

Magilligan is a medium-security prison housing shorter-term adult male prisoners, which also has low-security accommodation for selected prisoners nearing the end of their sentences. It accommodates around 500 prisoners and is located near Limavady, which is approximately 70 miles from Belfast.

The visit to Magilligan Prison will begin at 8:00 AM at the Conference Centre. Participants will return to the Conference Centre at approximately 2:30 PM. Please ensure you arrive 15 minutes before departure time.

Magilligan Prison Magilligan Prison Magilligan Prison

Hydebank Wood Secure College and Women’s Prison

Hydebank is a medium to low security establishment accommodating young males (18-24 years old) and all female prisoners. In 2015, Hydebank became a ‘secure college’ with a strong focus on learning and skills, having previously acted as a Young Offenders Centre. At Hydebank, the Prison Service also operates the Prison Service College, which trains both recruits and serving operational grades. Hydebank is located on the outskirts of South Belfast, approximately seven miles from Belfast City Centre.

The visit to Hydebank will begin at 8:45 AM at the Conference Centre. Participants will return to the Conference Centre at approximately 1:30 PM. Please ensure you arrive 15 minutes before departure time.

Hydebank Wood Secure College and Women’s Prison Hydebank Wood Secure College and Women’s Prison

Mountjoy Prison

Mountjoy Prison is a closed, medium security prison for adult males. It is also the main committal prison for Dublin city and county. It is located in Dublin, which is approximately 100 miles from Belfast City Centre.To view the daily prisoner population of the Irish Prison Service click here.

The visit to Mountjoy will begin at 7:30 AM at the Conference Centre. Participants will return to the Conference Centre at approximately 4:00 PM. This will include a stop on the return journey at Dublin International Airport at approximately 1:30 PM. Please ensure you arrive 15 minutes before departure time.

Mountjoy Prison Mountjoy Prison