Record inmate numbers spark fears of overflowing Victorian prison system

RECORD numbers of inmates has seen Victoria’s prison population surge amid fears the state’s jails will be overflowing within three years.

Prisoner count hit a ­record high of 6838 in December — up by 440 offenders from the previous year.

VICTORIA’S prison population has surged to almost 7000 inmates amid fears the state’s jails will be overflowing within 2½ years.

Corrections Victoria reveal­ed the prisoner count hit a ­record high of 6838 in December — up by 440 offenders from the previous year.

Corrections Victoria spokesman Michael Gleeson said the inmate population was growing.

“Remandees currently constitute about 30 per cent of the total prisoner population. This is a significant increase on the previous decade, where remand-prisoner numbers remained stable at about 18-20 per cent of the overall population.

“The Victorian Government and Corrections Victoria are implementing a range of measures to manage the increase in remand prisoners, decrease pressure on police cells and help prisoners appear court on time.”

The prison data comes as Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton boasted last week that Victoria Police was “catching more criminals than ever before”.

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton. Picture: Darrian Traynor

However, the trend has raised concerns among judicial sources that courts and prisons will struggle with the impact of the crime crackdown.

A report by Victorian Ombudsman Deborah Glass in 2015 warned jails were on track to hit capacity in 2019, even with a new medium security men’s prison in Ravenhall due to open later this year.

Victorian Ombudsman Deborah Glass Picture: Norm Oorloff

The rising adult prison numbers come after the And­rews Government was forced to fast-track plans on a new youth justice facility in Werribee after outdated juvenile centres hit capacity following riots by the growing number of underage offenders.

Corrections ­Minister Gayle Tierney.

The government would not discuss increasing inmate numbers, but Corrections ­Minister Gayle Tierney spruiked reforms which meant that “more people are being taken off the streets and put behind bars”.

“The Andrews Labor Government has tightened bail, strengthened parole measures and introduced tougher sentencing practices to keep the community safe,’’ she said.

Opposition spokesman ­Edward O’Donohue said the prison capacity needed to be addressed.