Ready-made cells a new plan to ease Victoria’s prison overcrowding
As the number of inmates in Victorian prisons surges, almost 500 prefabricated cells will be hoisted into five of the state’s male prisons to ease the burden.
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Almost 500 prefabricated cells will be hoisted into five of Victoria’s male prisons amid soaring inmate numbers.
The Sunday Herald Sun has been told the cells — a mix of single and dual bed constructions — will be installed at maximum and medium security prisons.
It is understood Barwon Prison is among those being considered.
Documents show 475 prefabricated cells will be installed from early next year.
They will be housed inside existing structures rather than as an extension.
Authorities are still working out where the new cells will go.
Port Phillip Prison, the Metropolitan Remand Centre, Loddon Prison and Marngoneet Correctional Centre are also believed to be among sites being considered for the “infill” expansion program.
Justice and Community Safety Department spokesman Michael Gleeson said: “The modular cells are permanent and will be installed at a number of prisons across the Victorian system.
“They will be a mixture of single and double cells.”
Corrections Victoria figures show prisoner numbers have nearly doubled since 2008.
There are now more than 8100 inmates, up from 4200 in June 2008.
In the past year alone, prison numbers rose 5.7 per cent.
Nine in 10 prisoners are men, with numbers rising almost 90 per cent since 2008.
There are 7500 men behind bars statewide.
Mr Gleeson said the government had allocated more than $1.44 billion this financial year to open more than 1650 new beds across the prison system to cater for future growth.
COST OF HOUSING PRISONERS RISES
This included money for the modular cells, which will reduce construction time frames and overall costs.
It will take between six and eight months for them to be delivered.
“In total, the Victorian government is investing more than $1.8 billion in the corrections system in 2019-20 to open more beds and deliver new programs,’’ Mr Gleeson said.
Community and Public Sector Union spokesman Julian Kennelly, whose union represents prison workers, said: “Prefabs are much better than double and triple bunking while we wait for additional capacity to be constructed.”