The prison has been nicknamed the "Monster Mansion"[a] due to the large number of high-profile, high-risk sex offenders and murderers held there.

The ordinary criminal prisoners were removed, and the new influx were sentenced to two or more years' imprisonment for refusing to obey military orders.

[5] After the closure of Dyce Work Camp in October 1916, Wakefield Prison was also used to intern conscientious objectors.

[6] In September 1918, a group of conscientious objectors took advantage of a slackening in the prison regime that occurred towards the end of the war, by rebelling and refusing to undertake any work.

[10] On 1 March 1976, Merlyn Rees, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in the Wilson ministry, announced that those people convicted of causing terrorist offences would no longer be entitled to Special Category Status, which was challenged during later hunger strikes.

The Education Department is operated by The Manchester College, and offers learning opportunities ranging from basic skills to Open University courses.

While staff attempted to manage him positively and constructively, his condition was deteriorating during a lengthy wait to be admitted to a secure hospital," according to the inspection report.