In 2002, His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons recorded many good initiatives taking place at Hindley, particularly in suicide prevention, drugs strategy, sentence planning and joint work with the police service to monitor and act on racial incidents.

However the Inspector criticised inadequate reception procedures, insufficient purposeful activity and patchy help with resettlement at the prison.

[3] In December 2004 a security alert was sparked when two inmates staged a rooftop protest at Hindley Prison.

Hindley is a combined establishment with a regime that offers opportunities for inmates to gain qualifications, address offending behaviour, and reintegrate into society on their release.

The prison's medical provision includes an in-patient healthcare facility and a mental health day care centre.