The prison was built by the Prison Service on the site of a former power station in the town centre on an island between a river and a canal close to the centre of Doncaster. It opened in June 1994. It is run by Serco and is part of the Yorkshire & Humberside region. It has a capacity of 1145 and the #1 governor is Jerry Spencer.
Accommodation
Prisoners are accommodated primarily in 3 house blocks, each comprising 4 wings Additional accommodation is provided in the annex on the ground floor of the health centre building. Each wing houses prisoners in cells on two levels surrounding an association area. The segregation unit has 22 cells with 2 protest cells and 2 special cells.
- Houseblock 1A: wing for prisoners convicted of sexual offences (PCOSOs)
- Houseblock 1B: general population
- Houseblock 1C: PCOSO wing
- Houseblock 1D: general population
- Houseblock 2A: general population (evolving to reintegration unit)
- Houseblock 2B: general population/off-wing workers
- Houseblock 2C: general population
- Houseblock 2D: general population
- Houseblock 3A: general population
- Houseblock 3B: stabilisation unit
- Houseblock 3C: early days centre/induction)
- Houseblock 3D: general population
- The Loft: complex needs unit
- Social care unit
- Segregation unit