Coronavirus: Parklea prisoners claim they’re cleaning cells with shampoo
Jail officials have rubbished claims that criminals are so worried about COVID-19 that they have resorted to cleaning their own cells with shampoo.
Inner West
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Corrections officers have warned there is no coronavirus crisis in the state’s prisons, with criminals facing a long stint in the slammer using the global pandemic as an excuse to avoid jail.
One hardened criminal on a series of robbery and escaping custody charges on Monday told a District Court judge he should be spared jail as inmates at Parklea Correctional Centre had resorted to cleaning their own cells with shampoo.
The man said prisoners were themselves cleaning the facility but had not been given any antibacterial products to do so.
“They’ll get up there and say anything,” A NSW Corrections source said.
The man’s lawyer was attempting to argue for him to be moved to a rehab facility which was “far more cleaner” than Parklea and would allow him to work on his drug addiction at the same time.
The case is one of many to go before the courts in recent weeks where lawyers have argued, in one way or another, for a more lenient sentence or bail due to coronavirus fears.
Just last week, inmates at the maximum security prison were rioting after tensions boiled over.
Visits by family members to the privately-run facility were recently shut-off to limit the potential spread of the disease.
While some inmates at Parklea are self-isolating, a NSW Corrective Services spokeswoman confirmed no prisoner has yet tested positive to COVID-19.
“Corrective Services NSW has longstanding safety practices in place to prevent and control infectious and communicable diseases in our prisons and other facilities,” the spokeswoman said.
“This includes staff and affected inmates wearing protective equipment, washing hands frequently, restricting movements of affected inmates and vaccinating staff and inmates for influenza where required.
“Inmates have received information about COVID-19 including steps they can take to reduce the risk of transmission.
“All staff and inmates have access to soap and water to wash their hands. There has also been a significant increase in cleaning at all correctional centres.”
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