The building received a Grade II* heritage listing in 1974, being a largely unaltered Victorian gaol.

Prisoners in the workshop worked at removing fake logos from clothing, CDs and videos which have been seized by trading standards officers.

Racial equality work was also found to be good, as was the education and training provision for inmates at both sites.

[5] Usk is a Category C closed prison for adult male vulnerable prisoners (mainly sex offenders, convicted police officers, ranking civil workers [clarification needed] which are convicted to serve a term or sentence).

A purpose-built Vocational Training Centre offers City and Guilds courses and qualifications in woodcraft, plasterwork and bricklaying.

Unlike most other UK prisons, there is no staffed Visitors' Centre or children's play area.

Between 1999 and 2011 the court room, and the historic Sessions House next door, were the subject of a restoration project costing £200,000.