DJs teaching Victorian prisoners how to rap amid low morale among Corrections Victoria staff
INMATES are being taught how to rap by DJs as prison officers complain of shocking work conditions within Corrections Victoria, saying “they treat the prisoners better than they treat the staff”.
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INMATES are being taught to rap as prison officers complain of shocking work conditions within Corrections Victoria.
A whistleblower has said morale among prison officers at the Melbourne Assessment Prison (MAP) and the County Court of Victoria is at an all-time low amid an alleged culture of bullying.
The Herald Sun understands anti-corruption watchdog IBAC has been notified of issues at Corrections Victoria.
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While some prisoners get lessons in how to rap lyrics, some of which are understood to encourage sexual violence, others are getting barista tutorials.
It has also been alleged that some senior staff at the prisons favour junior employees who they are in sexual relationships with.
And a female guard who was discovered to be having a relationship with an incarcerated member of the notorious Tiba crime family escaped serious punishment, angering other guards.
The whistleblower told the Herald Sun prison officers were concerned about a number of safety issues at the MAP and County Court.
Some prison officers are using out of date entry cards to access high security jails, sparking concerns a breach could easily occur.
On one occasion an inmate racially abused a prison officer before throwing semen onto a guard.
And when a sewage leak flooded the cells beneath the County Court earlier this year prison officers were given plastic shopping bags to use over their shoes and told to wade through human excrement.
Concerns have also been flagged with prison bosses about security issues guards have to contend with.
The prison officers, who are unarmed, often have to escort prisoners in elevators at the County Court on their own and without back-up.
Last year a criminal escaped custody when he told a prison officer that if he touched him he would kill him.
He was later arrested by Victoria Police outside the court.
“They are happy to pay for DJs to come in and teach the prisoners how to rap about raping women, but they aren’t prepared to pay the money to make sure two prison officers can escort a prisoner,” the whistleblower told the Herald Sun.
“It is an absolute disgrace.
“They treat the prisoners better than they treat the staff.”
The source told the Herald Sun that prison officers at the County Court do not have access to showers while the prisoners do.
“We are spat on and have bodily fluids thrown at us yet there is no access to showers for officers,” the whistleblower said.
“If you complain about these issues you are bullied and put on the sh*t list.”
The whistleblower said prison bosses have given promotions to favourites and if guards complained about safety concerns they were labelled as “pussies” and “cowards”.
A Corrections Victoria spokesman defended the rapping and barista training as practical programs that help prisoners return to the community and find jobs.
He also said Corrections Victoria had no evidence to support claims of bullying, security concerns or low morale.
“Bullying is never tolerated,” the spokesman said.
“We always expect all staff to uphold the highest levels of professionalism and ethics, and provides comprehensive training and education to ensure they are aware of expectations.
“We foster a culture in which staff feel safe and encouraged to speak out if they believe someone is doing the wrong thing, which is essential to identifying and addressing instances of misconduct.”
An IBAC spokeswoman said: “For legal and operational reasons, IBAC is unable to comment on this matter.”