Malmsbury teen prisoners caught downloading raunchy pornography
Youth inmates with access to laptops, iPads and Nintendos have been downloading hardcore porn, with Malmsbury prison workers helpless to stop them from downloading exploitative material.
Police & Courts
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Teen offenders at a troubled youth prison have been caught downloading and streaming pornographic material in the latest scandal to hit the facility.
Prisoners at Malmsbury youth justice centre in central Victoria have been accessing explicit material in recent weeks in what the department labels a “potential IT breach”.
The Herald Sun understands youth offenders were granted increased access to devices after visitation rights were shut down in March due to the coronavirus.
It is understood the breaches took place in the newly opened Topaz unit where prisoners had access to streaming services which were then abused.
Prison sources said the teens had access to laptops, iPads and Nintendos and officers had been unable to stop them from downloading and streaming the raunchy material.
“The prison hasn’t been able to put a stop to the kids watching porn,” a prison source said.
“The kids are too smart for the guards. The kids are having a ball — pardon the pun.
“It is causing frustration among the staff, how can you police it 24/7.
“As a guard, you used to be able to work with the kids, now they are just glorified babysitters.”
The Herald Sun understands officers have become increasingly concerned with the ability for prisoners to contact the outside world via social media, including victims of their crimes.
When asked about the alleged pornographic bungle, the Department of Justice and Community Safety said: “An investigation is underway into a potential IT breach and it would be inappropriate to comment further.”
It comes as a youth justice worker was stood down after he was busted allegedly trying to smuggle pornography into the detention centre in August.
Police were called in to investigate after the male worker was intercepted with a memory stick containing the illicit material.
It is understood the porn was distributed to teen inmates.
Pornography is considered contraband in the state’s youth detention centres and adult prisons.
Breaches can result in criminal charges and internal disciplinary action.
MP for northern Victoria Tania Maxwell said it was “disturbing” that youth prisoners were downloading and viewing inappropriate material.
“I’m astounded by the possibility that inmates have unrestricted internet that gives them access to inappropriate material,” Ms Maxwell said.
“There has also allegedly been at least one very worrying case of an inmate making uninvited online contact with a victim of their crime. The potential for high-speed internet access to be utilised by an offender to contact a victim is appalling, and downright dangerous.”
The Department of Justice said no victims had been contacted by teen prisoners.
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