Recommendation 173

This recommendation is assigned to CSNSW.

Recommendation

That initiatives directed to providing a more humane environment through introducing shared accommodation facilities for community living, and other means should be supported, and pursued in accordance with experience and subject to security requirements.

Context

The Royal Commission report recognised that interaction with fellow Aboriginal prisoners could improve the experience of the inmate and potentially reduce Aboriginal deaths in custody. Recommendation 173 is directed an enhancing the custodial environment and accommodation for Aboriginal prisoners.

Details of implementation

In addition to two-out cell availability Corrective Services has a number of minimum-security correctional centres that provide open/dormitory style accommodation, or some designated pods and cottage-style accommodation are as follows:

• Emu Plains
• St Heliers
• Mannus
• Oberon
• Broken Hill
• Mid North Coast
• Glenn Innes
• Mary Wade
• South Coast

In addition, in December 2017 and February 2018 Corrective Services commissioner two new two rapid build prisons at Wellington and Cessnock Correctional Complexes known as Macquarie and Hunter Correctional Centres that are the first maximum security shared living dormitory accommodation in New South Wales.

These dormitory pods include separate cubicles with individual shower and toilet cubicles for inmates and a longer structured day providing inmates with access to education and work.

Prison Bed Capacity Adjustment Program

Reference to the removal of hanging points from prison cells was made in recommendation 165 of the Royal Commission.

Owing to the age of many correctional centres, there are significant design challenges in eliminating all hanging points in cells.

Since 2016, the Prison Bed Capacity Program (PBCP) and the Clarence Correctional Centre public private partnership delivered a total of 2,988 new maximum-security cells designed to anti-ligature design standards. 

In 2019/20, 411 obsolete cells were retired under the Prison Bed Capacity Adjustment Program.

In 2021/22, obvious hanging points were removed in 190 cells at Long Bay and 38 at the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre replacing cell doors, grills, beds, basins and tapware.

High level hanging points were removed from cells at Tamworth Correctional Centre. Additional refurbishment work to address low level hanging points occurred in 2021/22 to further improve the safety of these cells, noting the difficulty of undertaking these works in a heritage correctional centre which is over 140 years old.

For FY 2022/23 CSNSW has been allocated a further $6 million of capital funds to address hanging points in cells.  A priority program of works for the new funding allocation is currently being established.  Funds are allocated based on risks and operational constraints.

Balund-a residential facility

• The Balund-a residential diversionary program (for predominantly Aboriginal offenders), managed by Community Corrections, was established in 2008
• It is designed to reduce re-offending and enhance skills within a cultural and supportive community environment
• Offenders enter the program as a condition of a section 11 bond for an initial assessment period of two weeks
• Offenders can also be referred to the program by Community Corrections staff when revocation of parole or community-based order is being considered, or when factors emerge in the course of supervision, and are assessed as requiring intensive residential intervention
• Balund-a has 28 staff, 36% of which are Aboriginal