The prison opened as a Borstal in 1961 and, following the establishment of the young people’s estate in July 2001. Hindley became a cluster site of two separate YOIs and began receiving young adult offenders (between the age of 18 and 21) on 6 December 2013, and in April 2015 it re-roled as a young offenders and Cat C prison.
Accommodation
- A wing: up to 83 sentenced adult prisoners
- B wing: up to 75 sentenced adult prisoners
- C wing: up to 84 sentenced adult prisoners
- D wing: up to 84 sentenced adult prisoners
- E wing: up to 131 sentenced adult prisoners
- F wing: up to 128 sentenced young adult prisoners (18-21)
- Acorn preparation PIPE unit: up to 10 adult and young prisoners
- Willow unit: segregation unit for up to 11 adult and young prisoners