The prison is the largest federal correctional institution in Canada with a population of approximately 625 housed in five units.

Construction of Warkworth Institution started on March 26, 1965, on 208 acres (0.84 km2) of land that had been purchased by the Department of Justice.

The Warkworth prison, opened in 1967, lies just inside the Brighton border and is a major financial contributor to the municipality.

The federal prison does not technically pay property taxes, but the government gives the amount in a grant to the municipality.

Warkworth is a sister institution to Springhill, NS; Cowansville, QC; and Drumheller, AB.