Goulburn Correctional Centre

Goulburn Correctional Centre

Main entrance to the Complex, opened in 1884, designed by the Colonial Architect. James Barnet.
Location Goulburn, New South Wales
Coordinates 34°44′29″S 149°44′26″E / 34.74139°S 149.74056°E / -34.74139; 149.74056Coordinates: 34°44′29″S 149°44′26″E / 34.74139°S 149.74056°E / -34.74139; 149.74056
Status Operational
Security class Super Maximum, Maximum, and Minimum (Males only)
Opened 1 July 1884
Former name Goulburn Gaol (1847  1928)
Goulburn Reformatory (1928  1949)
Goulburn Training Centre (1949  1993)
Goulburn Correctional Centre (1993  present)
Managed by Corrective Services NSW

The Goulburn Correctional Centre, an Australian super-maximum, maximum, and minimum security prison for males, is located in Goulburn, New South Wales, three kilometres north-east of the central business district. The facility is operated by Corrective Services NSW, an agency of the Department of Attorney General and Justice, of the Government of New South Wales. The Complex accepts prisoners charged and convicted under New South Wales and/or Commonwealth legislation and serves as a reception prison for Southern New South Wales, and, in some cases, for inmates from the Australian Capital Territory.

The current structure incorporates a massive, hand-carved sandstone gate and façade (pictured above right) that was opened in 1884 based on designs by the Colonial Architect, James Barnet. The High Risk Management Centre (commonly called the SuperMax) was opened in September 2001. This was the first such facility in Australia and makes the Centre the highest security prison in Australia.[1]

History

Goulburn's first lock-up was built around 1830 and gallows were built as early as 1832 when floggings were common.[2] The first Goulburn Gaol was proclaimed on 28 June 1847, attached to the local Courthouse. When the Controller of Prisons first reported to parliament in 1878 Goulburn Gaol had accommodation for 63 segregated and 127 associated prisoners, and held 66 prisoners; inclusive of one female.[3]

New premises were in the process of erection in 1881 as part of a scheme to 'bring the Colony from its backward position as regards to prison buildings'. The building called and known by the name of the New Gaol at Goulburn on the current site was proclaimed as a Public Gaol, Prison and House of Correction from 1 July 1884. The gaol also became a place of detention for male prisoners under sentence or transportation. The new gaol increased the capacity of the gaol to 182 separated and 546 associated prisoners. In the year ended 1884 there were a total of 295 prisoners in custody. In 1893 prison labour was used to build an additional 127 cells to Goulburn Gaol, six exercise yards for 'youthful offenders' and a further yard for prisoners awaiting trial. This extension enabled Goulburn gaol to operate on the principle of restricted association which was gradually being adopted throughout the Colony. The following year additional cells were erected for female prisoners. The '7th class' prisoners were moved into the former women's cells thus preventing contact between these young prisoners and serious offenders. Steam cooking facilities were installed and a 70-foot (21 m) chimney was erected, new workshops were planned to create one of the most complete prison complexes in NSW.[3]

The prison was renamed the Goulburn Reformatory in 1928, and became known as the Goulburn Training Centre in 1949. In 1992 the centre was again renamed - Goulburn Correctional Centre.[3]

Initially, Goulburn was one of the principal gaols in NSW. Its early prime focus was upon the first offenders where a program of employment, educational opportunities, physical education in addition to the scheme of restricted association was credited for a relatively low level of re-offending.[3]

In 2015 Goulburn attracted controversy after prisoner a Stephen who was housed in the maximum security wing escaped after he cut through a gate at the back of a small secure exercise yard attached to his cell, tied bed sheets together to scale a wall, and put a pillow around his waist to avoid being hurt by razor wire.[4][5] In the same year the Minister for Corrections announced that security would be tightened following a breach when inmate an was caught with a contraband mobile phone that he used to upload pictures and text to a social media website.[6][7]

High-Risk Management Correctional Centre

Opened in 2001 at a cost of A$20 million,[8] the Super Maximum facility is located within the confines of the Goulburn Correctional Centre. Initially called the High-Risk Management Unit (HRMU, also referred to by inmates as HARM-U), it was Australia's first Supermax prison since the closure of the Katingal facility at the Long Bay Correctional Centre in 1978. The facility is the most secure prison within the NSW correctional system, and the inmates are subject to very strict daily regimes, and under intense scrutiny by security. Goulburn HRMCC has received complaints by prisoners, including the lack of natural light and fresh air; access to legal books; the use of isolation and solitary confinement; limited and enclosed exercise; self-mutilation and harsh treatment.[9][10] A 2008 report by the New South Wales Ombudsman explained that there is “no doubt… that the HRMU does not provide a therapeutic environment for these inmates”.[11]

In spite of the security measures inside the HRMCC, in June 2011 it was reported that an unnamed inmate in the Centre had allegedly smuggled a mobile phone into the unit and plotted two kidnappings and a shooting. Criminal charges were laid against the inmate and his alleged co-conspirators.[12]

Notable prisoners

See also

References

  1. Mitchell, Alex (22 April 2007). "Mastermind recruiting Islamic gang inside super jail". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  2. "Fast Fact: Goulburn Gaol". Tourism Business Unit of Goulburn Mulwaree Council. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Goulburn Gaol (1847 - 1928) / Goulburn Reformatory (1928 - 1949) / Goulburn Training Centre (1949 - 1993) / Goulburn Correctional Centre (1993 - )". State Records. Government of New South Wales. 1996.
  4. "Maximum security prisoner Stephen Jamieson ties bed sheets together, climbs jail wall to escape from Goulburn prison". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 18 August 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  5. "Australia inmate captured after using bed sheets to flee". BBC News. 18 August 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  6. Ralston, Nick (30 September 2015). "Prisoner Beau Wiles posts to Facebook, escapes from Goulburn jail". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  7. "Prisoner escapes from Goulburn Correctional Centre NSW". ABC News (Australia). 30 September 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  8. "Chronology of the Prisoner Movement in Australia". Justice Action. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  9. Brown, David (5 September 2003). "Contemporary comment: The Nagle Royal Commission 25 years on (speech delivered to the NSW Council of Liberties at NSW Parliament House". Current Issues in Criminal Justice 15 (2): 170–175.
  10. Brown, David (2004). "Royal Commissions and criminal justice: behind the ideal.". In Gilligan, G; Pratt, J. Crime, Truth and Justice: Official inquiry, discourse, knowledge. United Kingdom: William Publishing.
  11. Barbour, Bruce (2008). "Corrections: High-Risk Management Unit". Annual Report 2007  2008 (PDF). New South Wales Ombudsman. p. 128. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  12. "Goulburn SuperMax inmate using smuggled mobile phone allegedly plotted kidnappings and shooting". Daily Telegraph (Australia). 9 June 2011. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  13. Molloy, Paul; Dasey, Jason (23 June 1980). "Controls on prisoners to be tightened". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  14. Jack The Insider Blog (24 August 2011). "Ray Denning and lessons un - learnt in our justice system". The Australian. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  15. Sutton, Candace (13 August 2013). "Is Australia's most dangerous gangster Bassam Hamzy still in control?". news.com.au. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  16. "Hey Dad! actor Robert Hughes taunted and pelted with excrement by fellow inmates". news.com.au. 3 August 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  17. Barrett, David (24 June 2009). "Sam Ibrahim's wife doesn't want him in Supermax". The Daily Telegraph (Australia). Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  18. Robinson, Georgina (27 January 2009). "Ivan Milat cuts off a finger". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  19. Walsh, Gerard (23 March 2012). "Naden in 'good spirits' in Supermax". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
  20. Gibbs, Stephen (21 January 2006). "Great escapes". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  21. "Skaf lampoons gang rape". The Sunday Age (Melbourne). AAP. 20 July 2003. Retrieved 4 January 2012.

Further reading

External links

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