Inmates granted access to ‘luxury’ items behind bars at Dame Phyllis Frost Centre
Victoria’s worst female offenders are living lavish lives in prison with access to products such as makeup, hair dye and even computers while serving out their lengthy sentences.
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Victoria’s worst female offenders are being granted access to “luxury” items like makeup, hair dye and computers while behind bars at a maximum-security prison.
The Herald Sun has been told inmates at Dame Phyllis Frost Centre, where women serve time for crimes like fraud and murder, are given a $70 monthly phone allowance and a $150 monthly canteen allowance.
The canteen cash allows prisoners to buy most foods available to the public including treats like chocolate and lollies.
The money, partly taxpayer funded is obtained through scheduled work completed inside the prison, such as gardening and kitchen duties, and family and friends.
Inmates can also apply for a one-off purchase, known as “special spend”, where they can buy about $150 worth of “luxury” products each month.
The women choose items from a catalogue with prison workers sent to collect their purchases from the shops.
The catalogue features an extensive list of goods including slippers, makeup, CDs, hair straighteners, body lotion, hair dye, nail polish, knitting needles and wool.
In some cases, inmates can purchase computers for educational purposes.
It is understood the “special spend” items are only available to those who are not subject to disciplinary sanctions with requests considered by the prison’s management.
Opposition police spokesman Brad Battin said criminals should not be rewarded.
“Every Victorian is feeling the impact of Labor’s cost of living crisis with energy bills up, food prices up and even rent up,” he said.
“Yet Premier Allan continues to reward dangerous offenders who don’t have to pay rent, electricity or for their meals with luxuries many families can’t afford.
“How can Labor support lipstick for offenders when many families can’t even afford a meal this Christmas.”
A Department of Justice and Community Safety spokesperson said: “Access to a canteen in prison is a privilege and people in prison must work and earn money to purchase items”.
“This is part of promoting good behaviour, order and rehabilitation within the prison, and encourages personal responsibility.”
Dame Phyllis Frost Centre is home to some of the state’s worst female offenders including pedophile principal Malka Leifer and underworld matriarch Judy Moran.
It comes as the Herald Sun revealed last month that convicted murderer Alicia Schiller was given the green light to undergo IVF treatment while behind bars at the Ravenhall prison.
Schiller withdrew her application after the decision prompted widespread outrage that a violent killer could win the privilege of raising a future child in prison for its first five years.
Questions were also raised about the huge cost to taxpayers of the child’s care in prison, despite Schiller saying she would use the proceeds of a property sale to pay for the treatment and the expense of being escorted to treatment sessions.
Schiller was sentenced to 16 years’ in jail in 2017 after stabbing her Geelong housemate Tyrelle Evertsen-Mosert to death over $50 in a drug-fuelled rage three years prior.
Ms Evertsen-Mostert’s mother Jo described the decision to approve Schiller’s IVF treatment as “ludicrous” and “disgusting”.
Originally published as Inmates granted access to ‘luxury’ items behind bars at Dame Phyllis Frost Centre
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