The Department of Home Affairs will be conducting an external inspection of the prison.
An inspection is not mandatory but the department has decided to go forward with it to ensure the it has external assurance on the operation of the prison.
It will be done by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prison Services at the Jurby facility.
One of the aims in the most recent budget was to ensure independent oversight of the prison.
The department said in a statement: ‘The Department of Home Affairs is responsible for ensuring the prison operates safely – compliant with both human rights and with the Custody Act and custody rules.
‘In order to provide a facility that is not just secure but is safe for prisoners and staff this means that the physical and mental wellbeing of offenders must be addressed.’
According to the department, mental health is ‘an issue more broadly for offenders in prison’.
It added: ‘Currently offenders are able to access a good level of mental health support – with a twice weekly session delivered by the Community Wellbeing Service, a twice weekly visit by a consultant psychiatrist, a weekly visit from a community mental health practitioner and there is a registered mental health nurse on the prison healthcare team.’
The statement continued: ‘There are no statutory requirements for external inspection but the department is keen to ensure it has external assurance on the operation of the prison and is in early discussions with the Ministry of Justice on an inspection by Her Majesty’s inspectorate of prison services.
‘This is alongside the ongoing work of the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB), whose members have unrestricted access to the prison.
‘They can talk to detainees, out of sight and hearing of members of staff.’
IMB monitors day-to-day life within the prison, the courts and the custody suite at police headquarters.
The purpose of the board is to ensure that proper standards of care and decency are maintained, according to the government.
It observes how things are run, the state of the premises and how detainees are treated within the facility.