Prisoner found dead in cell at Capricornia Correctional Centre

A male prisoner was found dead in his cell earlier this month. It has been confirmed two other inmates have also died in Rockhampton hospital this year.

The 42-year-old male prisoner who was found dead in his prison cell at Capricornia Correctional Centre on August 9 is the first death at the Rockhampton prison this year while two other inmates have died in hospital.

Queensland Corrective Services confirmed the death and said the man was unresponsive when located in a cell on August 9 and could not be revived by correctional centre or ambulance officers who responded.

“We acknowledge the attempts of the responding officers to revive the man,” the QCS statement said.

“We extend our condolences to the man’s family, friends and community.”

Police detectives from the Corrective Services Investigation Unit (CSIU) are investigating the death in custody.

CSIU and QCS will prepare a report for the Coroner.

QCS has not indicated what the cause of the latest death was.

A 62-year-old male prisoner passed away at Rockhampton Hospital on May 11.

Another 79-year-old male prisoner passed away at the Rockhampton Hospital on January 14.

QCS said none of the deaths were considered suspicious.

All deaths in custody are subject to a coronial inquest.

In August 2021 this publication reported, using data from QCS, there had been 18 inmate deaths in 17 years at the prison north of Rockhampton.

All deaths in custody are required by law to be investigated by the State Coroner.

Of the 18 deaths at the Rockhampton jail, 10 were found to be from natural causes and three were from natural causes which potentially could have been avoided if treated earlier.

One was assaulted by a fellow inmate and another prisoner was assaulted by prison staff.

An overdose from smuggled drugs was also the cause of another death and one prisoner died as a result of high caffeine levels.

Frederick Row Row took his own life on August 24, 2016, however his family and an inquest argue his death could have been avoided.

Mr Row Row was being held in the Detention Unit after his assault on another prisoner and had asked to be moved to the prison’s medical unit.

On the morning of his death, he had been seen crying and openly admitted to having suicidal thoughts.