Parklea jail crisis: Stabbing death prompts calls for state takeover
The stabbing death of an inmate at the crisis-ridden Parklea jail has prompted renewed calls for the privately-run prison to be returned to public hands. It follows a ‘litany of problems’, which include a recent riot and alleged relationships between guards and inmates.
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The prison guards’ union has called for the return of the troubled Parklea prison to public hands after an inmate was stabbed to death last week.
The death of 33-year-old Illawarra man Michael Black follows what the union has labelled as a “litany of problems” at the only privately-run maximum security prison in the state.
A 28-year-old inmate has been charged with murder and remains before the courts.
The union’s general secretary Stewart Little said there had been “failure after failure” at the prison since private companies took over operations in 2009 and has pushed for an end to the private operation.
“At some point, the government is going to have to look at it,” Mr Little said.
“You can’t just have failure after failure.
“You’re always going to have these sorts of problems at a privately-run facility in Metropolitan Sydney.”
Mr Little said staff had expressed concerns about inadequate staffing levels and training.
“The reality is, to run a remand facility in metropolitan Sydney where you have high staff turnover, it’s really difficult to maintain and train staff up to a high level,” he said.
“Why are they going to work with rapists and murderers when they can go and drive a bus and earn more money. That’s why you’ve got these problems and you’ll continue to have them.”
The prison has been at the centre of a long list of incidents over the past decade. In 2017, the crisis was thrown into the spotlight in 2017 after an inmate recorded footage of homemade knives and the drug ice on a mobile phone and claimed guards were smuggling in contraband for cash.
The incident spurred on a NSW Parliamentary Inquiry in 2018, which found “serious and systemic problems” at the prison under former US-owned operator GEO Group Australia.
The inquiry conceded with the State Government ending GEO Groups’ operations and awarding a $90 million a year contract to fellow US operator MTC-Broadspectrum.
Issues surrounding inappropriate relations between staff and inmates have led to police charges.
In April last year, former prison worker and bikini model Tara Brooks, 34, was convicted over having a relationship with convicted drug dealer Hassan Zreika, 41. The conviction, however, was overturned on appeal.
Last month, prison officer Ruby Burgess, 33, was charged over allegedly having an intimate relationship with a male inmate over three months.
In August last year, the prison was sent into lockdown when an inmate climbed onto the roof and earlier this month, the prison was again forced into lockdown when a riot erupted between prisoners.
Mr Black’s death has again cast a shadow over the prison, with MTC-Broadspectrum working with Corrective Services NSW and a NSW Police strike force to investigate the incident.
“Following any incident that threatens the good order and security of the centre involving inmates or staff, an immediate review is automatically conducted in collaboration with Corrective Services NSW and, where necessary, NSW Police or independent investigators,” an MTC-Broadspectrum spokeswoman said.
“Appropriate action is then taken by the centre based on the outcome of the investigation and any recommendations that are made.”
The spokeswoman said the jail was targeting misconduct among staff.
“We provide training, supervision and mentorship to support (staff) in doing the right thing, including resisting when inmates try to pressure them into corrupt behaviour,” she said.
Corrective Services NSW said it was closely monitoring the jail’s operations.
“Corrective Services NSW closely monitors Parklea Correctional Centre and receives regular reports on centre operations,” a spokeswoman said.
“We have CSNSW-appointed monitors on site when major incidents occur to independently assess the management of the incident.”
The spokeswoman said illegal activity at the prison was rare.
“The majority of correctional staff conduct themselves professionally,” she said.
“While incidents of contraband trafficking are rare, we take the issue seriously and proactively monitor staff behaviour.”
Mr Little said a combination of budget constraints and the types of inmates at the prison meant the operation was “fraught with danger”.
“MTC-Broadspectrum has signed up to a contract that is not achievable with the budgetary constraints that they are given,” he said.
“It’s a very large facility and it’s a remand facility. People are coming in, they haven’t been properly before the courts, you don’t know what histories they’ve got or their level of violence. They’re always going to be difficult and they’re often drug affected.
“There is no way you are ever in the long term going to run a privately-run prison safely and efficiently over a long period. You’re just not going to do it.”
PARKLEA JAIL TIMELINE
2009: Prison taken over by US operator GEO Group Australia. At this time the State Government said privatising the prison would save $60 million a year.
2015: Psychologist Joanne Natalie Senior was found guilty of professional misconduct after sustaining an inappropriate personal and sexual relationship with the inmate between June 2011 and January 2012.
Since 2016: Issues with deaths and suicides/self-harm in custody. Eleven inmates have died, seven were suicide.
2017: Media crisis after inmate releases footage of himself in his cell with a homemade shank and the drug ice. Claims contraband brought in by guards for money.
NOV 2018: MTC-Broadspectrum awarded a seven-year contract, worth $90 million a year. At the time, 50 new frontline staff were employed.
DEC 2018: Report released from a parliamentary inquiry into Parklea jail operations. The report outlined “serious and systemic problems at the private prison” when it was run by GEO Group Australia.
APRIL 2019: Bikini model and former prison guard Tara Brooks, 33, convicted over engaging in a relationship with a male inmate, 41, but her conviction was overturned on appeal.
AUG 2019: Jail forced into lockdown after inmate climbs on roof.
MARCH 2020: Prison guard Ruby Burgess, 33 charged over alleged intimate relationship with a male inmate over three months.
APRIL 2020: Prison forced into lockdown over a riot where inmates were assaulted.
Inmate and prison guard charged over alleged contraband smuggling operation.
Inmate Michael Black allegedly stabbed to death by a fellow prisoner.