It developed into a therapeutic community (TC) prison based upon principles established at the Henderson Hospital in London.

[2] A prisoner at Grendon serving 18 years for robbery escaped in June 2003 while at the John Radcliffe Hospital for treatment.

The inmate had been released on a temporary licence, and was being driven back to the prison by officers, when he jumped out of the moving car on to a motorway, and escaped.

Therapeutic Communities address a range of offender needs including interpersonal relationships, emotional regulation, self-management and psychological wellbeing.

TC intervention centres on addressing the risk factors and offending behaviour needs that inevitably emerge in this environment.

[6] Research shows that the institutional behaviour of prisoners improves including reduced adjudications and acts of self-harm.