Prior to Guyana gaining her independence from England, the penal system was known as Her Royal Majesty's Penal Service. In 1957, the name changed to the Guyana Prison Service, as did the name of the country from British Guiana to the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.
The Guyana Prison Service (GPS) is a national prison system. It has five prisons spread out over the northern part of the country. The GPS can best be described as a para-military organization. The GPS, as an agency, falls under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The Guyana Prison Service is currently being run by the Acting Director Mr. Dale Erskine. Below the director is the position of Deputy Director, presently vacant. As for the organizational structure the head office has a Fiscal Officer and a Management Consultant, also the Administration is supported by other correctional officers, who perform clerical and administrative duties.
Within the prison headquarters building is the Office of Recruitment/Training. This office handles all recruitment and preservice and in-service training of all personnel.
The breakdown of institution personnel is done by a rank order. The rank order consists of: