The prison is situated on the edge of a predominantly residential area and has good transport and road links to the city centre, which provides good access both for local courts and prison visitors.

[1] The prison consists of four halls: Glenesk, Hermiston, Ingliston and Ratho.

The prison receives inmates from the courts in Edinburgh, the Lothians and the Borders.

The prison library was the winner of the 2010 UK Libraries Change Lives Award[4] for its work in promoting literacy among its incarcerated population, who typically have much lower literacy rates on admission than the general population.

Kate King, the librarian, was also named UK public library staff member of the year in 2014.