Following their latest visit to the Yorkshire prison, which holds 350 women and has a mother and baby unit, inspectors found that not enough is being done to treat the one in ten prisoners who are aged between 18 and 21 differently to older inmates.
“There was little attempt to identify and meet their specific needs, yet girls under-18 in the young offender institute attached to the prison received high levels of age-appropriate support,” the inspection report said.
“The needs of these young women did not suddenly change when they became 18 and needed greater consideration.”
Inspectors were also concerned there was no specific mention of 18- to 21-year-olds in management documents or the prison’s diversity policy.
The report described the prison’s mother and baby unit, which can hold nine mothers and 10 babies, as a “good, safe and stimulating environment”, but inspectors said they were worried about the safety of children at night.
They found there was no paediatric first aid-trained staff on hand at night, “when the unit was inappropriately supervised by a lone male member of staff”. They also warned that prison staff at the unit should stop wearing prison uniform, because it is “inappropriate”.
Aside from the concerns, New Hall was praised for offering a safe environment for women and for its efforts to reduce reoffending.
Nick Hardwick, chief inspector of prisons, said: “Despite a constantly changing population with high levels of need, most women are held safely and respectfully and given effective help to return to the community without reoffending.”
A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said: "The prison is working now to address any issues raised in the report."
Michael Spurr, chief executive officer of the National Offender Management Service added: "The governor and staff are looking to build on the good work already in place to ensure that all prisoners, particularly those with the most serious behavioural issues, are given the support and treatment they need."
The Youth Offending Institution that is attached to HMP New Hall is inspected separately.
