SA
New Strategy to Reduce Recidivism
The South Australian government has released a new strategy aiming to reduce the number of people returning to prison after being released by one-third over the next four years.
The strategy places retraining programs at its centre.
This includes vocational training in prison, with an aim for people to be leaving prison with industry-ready skills and employment opportunities.
VIC
Opposition Vows to Scrap Emergency Management Days
The Victorian Opposition has promised to get rid of emergency management days if it wins the upcoming state election.
Emergency management days allow people in prison to receive time off their sentence if they are impacted by certain evens, such as lockdowns due to strikes.
Prison Sentence Lengths Increase Over Last Decade
The length of prison sentences in Victoria has increased over the past decade, thanks in part to the introduction of standard sentences in 2018, a new report has found.
The Victorian Sentencing Advisory Council recently released a report looking at the impact of changes which required the courts to take the standard sentence into account when deciding the sentence for certain offences.
It found that the imprisonment lengths for nearly all of these standard sentence offences has increased in the last decade.
The median prison sentence for murder has increased from 21 to 24 years, while for trafficking it has jumped from seven to 11 years.
Despite this, 85 per cent of sentences for all but two standard sentence offences were shorter than the standard sentence.
QLD
Proposed Mandatory Sentencing for Certain Breaches of Bail
By Prisoners’ Legal Service
The Queensland Government has introduced the Break Bail go to Jail and Other Amendments Bill 2026. The Bill introduces a new offence for committing particular offences while on bail, unlawfully at large or failing to appear.
If the Bill is passed and made into law, then youths and adults who are found guilty of committing a serious offence while on bail will face a mandatory minimum sentence of 1 year imprisonment, with a maximum sentence of 3 years’ imprisonment.
The Bill is currently being considered by a Parliamentary Committee, which has held public hearings around Queensland in September. The Parliamentary Committee was due to report back to the State Parliament on in mid-October.
NSW
Transfers to Junee Completed
About 90 inmates have been transported from Goulburn prison to Junee Correctional Centre.
The NSW government recently announced that people being held at four wings at the Goulburn prison would be transported to other prisons in the state.
The four wings are the maximum security facility at Goulburn, with the High Risk Management Correctional Centre to continue operating.
State Government Announces Nearly 1000 New Prison Beds
Nearly 1000 new prison beds will come online soon as the NSW government looks to deal with a fast-growing prison population.
The 515-bed Dawn de Loas Correctional Centre at the Silverwater Correctional Complex will be reopened, at a cost of more than $47 million.
The construction of more than 360 new beds at Parklea Correctional Centre will also be fast-tracked by the state government.
There are a record number of people in prison on remand in NSW, now accounting for 46 per cent of all people in custody.
NT
Education Milestone
More than 2000 people in prison in the Northern Territory have now taken part in education and skills training through Charles Darwin University.
There have been more than 500 people enrolled in NT White Card training, which covers essential workplace health and safety practices that are needed for working on construction sites.
Food handling courses, forklift licences and construction pathways are also on offer.
Northern Territory Corrections and the Charles Darwin University signed a deal on prison education in early 2024.
ACT
Government Consults on Transitional Release Program
The ACT government is reviewing the transitional release program at Alexander Maconochie Centre, and recently consulted with victims of crime.
This program allows people with up to two years left on their non-parole period to apply for leave for activities that will help them prepare for life in the community.
These activities include going to the bank, sorting future accommodation, visiting the shopping centre and recreational physical activities.
Participants in this program are escorted by ACT Corrective Services staff.
WA
Body-Worn Cameras Coming to Max-Security Prison
Officers at maximum-security prisons in Western Australia are now wearing body-worn cameras.
The cameras will capture video and audio of incidents in the men’s and women’s prisons.
More than 500 cameras have now been distributed to officers at Casuarina, Hakea, Bandyup, Melaleuca and Albany prisons.
“The cameras’ use will make interactions between officers and prisoners more transparent and enable more effective reviews of incidents,” Corrective Services Minister Dr Tony Buti said.
“The evidence collected by these devices is expected to reduce assaults on staff. It’s one more tool available to help make our prisons more secure and allow staff to focus on rehabilitation prisoners to enhance community safety.”
NT
Education Milestone
More than 2000 people in prison in the Northern Territory have now taken part in education and skills training through Charles Darwin University.
There have been more than 500 people enrolled in NT White Card training, which covers essential workplace health and safety practices that are needed for working on construction sites.
Food handling courses, forklift licences and construction pathways are also on offer.
Northern Territory Corrections and the Charles Darwin University signed a deal on prison education in early 2024.
ACT
Government Consults on Transitional Release Program
The ACT government is reviewing the transitional release program at Alexander Maconochie Centre, and recently consulted with victims of crime.
This program allows people with up to two years left on their non-parole period to apply for leave for activities that will help them prepare for life in the community.
These activities include going to the bank, sorting future accommodation, visiting the shopping centre and recreational physical activities.
Participants in this program are escorted by ACT Corrective Services staff.
WA
Body-Worn Cameras Coming to Max-Security Prison
Officers at maximum-security prisons in Western Australia are now wearing body-worn cameras.
The cameras will capture video and audio of incidents in the men’s and women’s prisons.
More than 500 cameras have now been distributed to officers at Casuarina, Hakea, Bandyup, Melaleuca and Albany prisons.
“The cameras’ use will make interactions between officers and prisoners more transparent and enable more effective reviews of incidents,” Corrective Services Minister Dr Tony Buti said.
“The evidence collected by these devices is expected to reduce assaults on staff. It’s one more tool available to help make our prisons more secure and allow staff to focus on rehabilitation prisoners to enhance community safety.”
