How Erin Patterson’s life behind bars will look, according to custody experts
Spending up to two weeks in a police cell with next to nothing to do and being isolated from other prisoners — here’s what custody experts say Erin Patterson’s life will be like ahead of trial.
Victoria
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Erin Patterson is in for a “horrendous” welcome to life in custody behind bars, according to a source with knowledge of the custody system.
The mum from Leongatha, an accused triple murderer, will become a ‘Category A’ level remandee when she’s taken to the state’s maximum security women’s prison.
Ms Patterson, who spent her first night in custody on Thursday in the police cells at Morwell station, will soon take the two-hour drive from Gippsland to Ravenhall’s Dame Phyllis Frost Centre.
It’s unknown exactly when that would be, but legally she can only be held in the police cells for 14 days.
If they’re anything like other police cells across the state, those in custody are typically subjected to 24/7 glaring lights overhead and next to nothing to do.
Described by one source as “really bad”, the cells are often shared spaces taken up by drunks and other drongos – especially on a Friday night and the weekend.
If they’re lucky, an accused might get their own custody cell, or be handed an iPad to entertain themselves.
Sometime before the 14 day maximum is up, Ms Patterson would likely be transported to a prison — possibly first to the Metropolitan Remand Centre and then DPFC — and be held behind bars as her homicide case progresses.
That’s likely to happen by a prison bus, with company ‘G4S’ having the private contract for prison transport.
At the women’s jail, she’d be kept under remand conditions, rather than with the general population whose cases have resolved and are serving out their sentences.
Those in the remand area tend to have very limited movement and activities, they usually can’t take part in prison programs.
Sometimes, remandees can join gen pop during the day, but given Ms Patterson’s high-level murder charges that may be unlikely.
One source with close knowledge of the system said custody was “going to be horrendous” for her.
And Ms Patterson has next to no chance of getting bail.
Her charges are so serious that she can’t apply to the Magistrates’ Court – it doesn’t have jurisdiction to grant bail on murder.
She could apply to a Supreme Court judge, but it’s almost hopeless given she’s charged with three counts of the most serious offences a person can face.
As for how long she’ll be on remand – it all depends on what happens with her case.
If she pleads not guilty, it could take up to two and a half years before it gets to trial in Victoria’s Supreme Court.
All the while, she’d be kept in remand conditions at the jail – but at least the lights would be turned off at night.
Or if a plea is entered, it could be resolved more quickly.
What we do know after her Magistrates’ Court appearance on Friday is that nothing will happen fast.
Police have already asked for a 20-week delay to analyse her computer equipment.
And the next time she faces court won’t be for more than six months – on May 3.
Even then, she won’t get the benefit of a day out of custody to head to court.
Magistrate Tim Walsh ordered her to appear on a video link from DPFC.
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