Low Newton is situated approximately 4 miles south west of Durham, and was purpose-built as a Remand Centre in 1965 with accommodation for 65 males and 11 females. Additional accommodation was provided in 1975 and the Centre then had a CNA of 215, though was normally overcrowded. Low Newton accommodated both male and female young persons and adult women until September 1998, when a re-role refurbishment programme commenced. It is now an all female prison. Low Newton serves the courts in the catchment area from the Scottish Borders to North Yorkshire across to North Cumbria. All remand females aged 18 and over are held (apart from Category A prisoners) and all sentenced female prisoners 18 or over can serve out their sentence, including lifers.

