Teen inmates forced to sleep on floor at Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre
TEEN criminals disgruntled at being forced to sleep on the floor of their cells due to renovation works are fuelling concerns tensions could erupt at a Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre.
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TEEN criminals disgruntled at being forced to sleep on the floor of their cells have fuelled concern tensions could again erupt at the troubled Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre.
The Sunday Herald Sun has been told at least 12 offenders, aged in their mid-late teens, have been forced to sleep on the ground due to renovation works at an adjoining unit over the past two weeks.
Some inmates have been made to sleep in isolation rooms without a toilet for up to 12 hours.
It’s believed the harsh measures were introduced as a form of punishment and staff feared youths could take out frustrations with violence in a repeat of last year’s ugly riots.
A Department of Justice spokesman denied the claims but several sources relayed the same reports.
It was also revealed there were two separate incidents, where one inmate was caught smoking a cigarette and another was involved in an assault.
“Those two boys are now sleeping on the floor of occupied cells,” a centre source said. “They feel as though they’re being punished and it’s a way of trying to teach them a lesson.”
It’s understood there were a number of beds available at the centre’s “open space” unit where the youth prisoners sleep and spend time if they’ve demonstrated good behaviour.
This week, the source said a number of the youth prisoners complained about the sleeping conditions.
“Some are even sleeping on the floor of the centre’s isolation room which is a tiny four wall room with nothing in it,” they revealed.
“I think it’s shocking. These are children and they’re already traumatised.”
Sources said they held high concerns for the safety and welfare of the prisoners.
“One boy is currently sleeping on the floor with another who is well over 100kg. It’s dangerous,” they said. “Don’t treat the boys like they’re worth less than humans.”
The Department of Justice denied inmates have been sleeping on the floor of cells.
A spokesman said: “Young people sleeping on floors is never used as a form of punishment.
“Ongoing strengthening works mean young people normally accommodated in units closed for works may need to be safely housed elsewhere.”
Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre has a troubled timeline of mass breakouts and riots, dating back to September 2016.
In January, a manhunt was executed after a mass jail breakout saw 15 young prisoners escape the youth justice centre.