Low Newton accommodated both male and female young persons and adult women until September 1998, when a re-role refurbishment programme commenced.

Since 1998 HMP Low Newton has been an all-female jail taking female prisoners from across the north of England, as well as lifers and juveniles.

[2] In the same year an inmate from Low Newton had to be immobilised by a Taser stun-gun whilst visiting the University Hospital of North Durham.

[3] In February 2014 The Learning Shop, an initiative set up in the prison to improve women's mental health was closed due to lack of funding.

The National Offender Management Service (NOMS), part of the Ministry of Justice, stated that similar support would still be available to prisoners.