NSW prisons overcrowding: Violent female inmates to be moved to juvenile detention centre

A SYDNEY juvenile detention centre will soon house the state’s most violent ­female prisoners as the NSW government plays musical chairs to address an inmate population explosion.

A SYDNEY juvenile detention centre will soon house the state’s most violent ­female prisoners as the NSW government plays musical chairs to address an inmate population explosion.

And in a move set for fierce opposition, a plan to reopen the historic Parramatta jail for a three-year ­period is to be put to Cabinet “within weeks” as an “interim measure” to the crisis.

With jail closures and tougher bail laws pushing the existing prison system to breaking point, the state government plan will result in more than 1100 new jail beds.

Inside Juniperina Juvenile Detention Centre at Lidcombe. Picture: Gregg Porteous

One of the cells at Juniperina jail Picture: Gregg Porteous

As part of the plan, Corrective Services NSW has ­acquired the $30 million ­Juniperina Juvenile Justice Centre in Lidcombe, which it will convert into a maximum-security prison for women.

A memo from Corrective Services NSW Commissioner Peter Severin sent to staff last week stated the ­department would be converting the Joseph St facility into a 100-bed complex.

Opened by the Carr government in 2005, the centre was described at the time as the first of its kind, with the Education Department running an onsite school to ­enable girls to continue their schooling or skills training.

Costing around $5 million a year to run, the centre also comprised rooms with cots for young mothers with ­babies, and a gymnasium

A departmental spokesman said the 44-bed facility would be reconfigured to house 100 maximum security adult female offenders from July 1.

The inmates would be transferred from other ­mainly metropolitan jails, with the existing female juvenile ­detainees to be moved to the Reiby juvenile prison. Some of the detainees at Reiby would be moved to Cobham juvenile remand centre, the spokesman said.

The juvenile detention centre has a gymnasium. Picture: Gregg Porteous

Security cameras are located all around the jail. Picture: Gregg Porteous

A prison staffer said the existing women’s jails were “chockers”.

“This is what happens when you close jails — you end up with overcrowding and having to juggle prisoners,” the staffer said.

While the adult prison populating is rising, figures from the NSW Bureau of Crimes Statistics and Research show juvenile inmate numbers are decreasing.

While the government is confident its plan can ­accommodate the growing number of inmates in the long-term, its short-term strategy is yet to be resolved.

A toilet and basin in the cell. Picture: Gregg Porteous

It also includes a swimming pool. Picture: Gregg Porteous

NSW Corrections Minister David Elliott has been ­exploring a plan to reopen Parramatta jail as an interim measure.

But this would require ­negotiating with the Deerubbin Local Aboriginal Land Council who won a land claim over the site.

However, local western Sydney business leaders and developers claim it would ­adversely impact new unit prices, while affecting the amenity of the rapidly gentrifying precinct.