Prisoners to get pizza nights, goodnight phone calls and barbies
PRISONERS would be able to participate in pizza nights, receive “goodnight calls” and enjoy barbecues with families under a controversial plan to keep peace at a Sydney jail.
NSW
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PRISONERS would be able to enjoy pizza nights, “goodnight calls” and relaxing barbecues with their family under a controversial plan of incentives for good behaviour at a Sydney jail.
The move, contained in a leaked departmental document, is part of a new management plan for John Morony Correctional Centre, near Windsor, which will also include the introduction of an advanced security systems to detect drones and even the number of hearts beating in vehicles entering or leaving the jail.
Described as a “a first for prisons”, the new incentive scheme will also allow inmates to receive extra oval time, social activities, private family visits, time alone and extra activities to “contribute to their rehabilitation and reintegration”.
Details of the changes are contained in a staff “transition” document dated November 14 and obtained by the state opposition, which outlines the changes from the wearing of new polo shirts to the scrapping of the morning parade.
“Many of the incentives we are introducing are a first for prisons, which is an exciting step towards achieving our vision for the centre,” it said.
“JMCC incentives will provide inmates opportunities to experience things that they wouldn’t normally have in prison — things that are worth the effort — things that will contribute to their rehabilitation and reintegration and to maintaining good order.
“There will be five incentives in total: private family visit/BBQ; goodnight call; My Time; Pizza Club and extra activities buy-up.”
It said inmates would be required to reach a set number of points to be eligible for the new incentives. These points would be awarded by prisoners committing to their education, program and work requirements.
The changes follow the signing of a new state government contract with Corrective Services NSW to continue managing the prison.
The department was forced to compete with the private sector to retain control of the jail after the government put it out to tender.
In July, a 24-year-old male inmate died after he was allegedly assaulted at the prison on June 19.
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Last year, the jail was at the centre of a police operation to smash a drug smuggling ring, with claims inmates were attempting to smuggle in heroin, ice, OxyContin tablets and mobile phones.
The document outlines a raft of new technology to be introduced at the jail over the next year to dramatically ramp up security.
These include a “heartbeat detection system” to determine the number of people entering or leaving the jail in a vehicle.
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Immediate action team prison officers will also be fitted with body cameras, while inmates entering the jail will be X-rayed by a full body scanner to detect hidden contraband.
The jail perimeter and air space over the compound will be fitted with Osprey Series Small Object Radar technology to detect items “down to the size of a golf ball” travelling over the fence.
Drones will also be targeted with the technology able to detect and track the flight path and drop-off points of “unmanned aerial vehicles”.
Opposition justice spokesman Guy Zangari said the rewards scheme was inappropriate and disrespectful to victims.
“These are hardened criminals we are dealing with,” Mr Zangari said.
“It’s one thing to have a barbecue, but pizza club, ‘hello love’ goodnight calls — it is just going too far.
“And then there is the security issue from ordering pizza from the outside — wonder what sides they will come with?”
When informed of the revised incentive scheme by The Sunday Telegraph, Justice Minister David Elliott said he would be canning it.
“I was gobsmacked - it will not be happening,” he said.
A Corrective Services NSW spokeswoman said the incentive scheme would not be going ahead.
“The John Morony Correctional Centre was consulting with staff about a proposal for an incentive scheme for inmates,” she said.