Coward attackers flood prisons after Minns govt DV reforms

Prison authorities are juggling a surge in remand inmates, with the bail law reforms attributed to the rise. Read how the changes are being handled.

Soaring numbers of coward attackers being sent to jail following state government domestic violence law reforms has led prison authorities sending “overflow” inmates to regional jails.

As of this week, there were a record number of remand inmates in jail with the rise in number attributed to domestic violence offenders being refused bail.

NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) figures show there were 1755 DV-related inmates in custody in the September quarter – up from just 930 in the same quarter in 2018.

The majority of DV offenders – 1650 – were men with 105 being women.

Inmates on remand are kept separate from sentenced prisoners, as they can be less stable and more volatile than sentenced inmates.

The Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre in Silverwater and Parklea jail remain the two main “remand hubs”.

Parklea Correctional Centre typically takes in remand prisoners. Picture: Gaye Gerard

However, the surge in remand inmates has led to 500 beds being converted at Macquarie, Hunter, Mid North Coast and South Coast correctional centres to accommodate “overflow” and local reman prisoners.

The new laws – passed in June – are designed to make it harder for alleged domestic violence offenders to get bail, while ensuring all bail decisions are made by magistrates.

Under the new law, people charged with serious domestic violence offences will be required to show cause why they should not be detained until their case is determined – reversing the presumption of bail.

Adults on remand for domestic violence

If granted bail, accused offenders will be subject to electronic monitoring, unless the bail authority is satisfied sufficient reasons exist – in the interests of justice – to justify not imposing the condition.

The Sunday Telegraph can reveal there were 11 domestic violence offenders being electronically monitored via an ankle bracelet as at Friday, including two in Parramatta and one in Lake Macquarie, the CBD, Sutherland, Blacktown, Hornsby, St Leonards, Nowra, Bankstown and Griffith.

NSW Minister for Corrections Anoulack Chanthivong at the domestic violence command centre in Sydney, 11 October 2024. Picture/POOL/ ABC news

NSW Corrections Minister Anoulack Chanthivong said the increase in remand inmates were evidence the Minns government bail reforms were working.

“As a result of these reform, it’s now harder for alleged serious domestic violence offenders to get bail,” he said.

“For those alleged serious domestic violence offenders that do get bail, electronic monitoring will ensure they will be monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and if they do the wrong thing, Police will be notified and action will be taken.”

The total number of prisoners in NSW jails is tracking up since a downturn during the pandemic, with 12,788 inmates recorded as at November 24.

The total number of all remand inmates has hit a record 5527.

A Corrective Services NSW spokesman said prison authorities had the ability and capacity to manage fluctuations in the prison population, with inmates regularly moved between correctional centres.

“While we are operating within our capacity, it has been necessary to convert some wings in regional centres that normally accommodate sentenced inmates to house remand inmates,” he said.

“Almost 500 beds have been converted at Macquarie, Hunter, Mid North Coast and South Coast correctional centres to account for the increase in remand inmates.”

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