George Pell could be housed with old housemate Gerald Ridsdale

The Cardinal will likely be sent to the same prison as his old housemate, sex offender Gerald Ridsdale.

George Pell with Father Gerald Ridsdale outside court in 1993. Picture: Supplied

Prison authorities are considering sending George Pell to the same prison as his old housemate, notorious sex offender Gerald Ridsdale.

It’s understood Pell will remain in the Melbourne Assessment Prison — where he has been in custody since February — for the coming days while prison authorities assess where he should be placed.

The most likely destination is the Hopkins Correctional Centre in Ararat, 200km west of Melbourne, although other options are being considered.

The prison houses Ridsdale — whom Pell escorted to court in 1993 — along with other paedophiles, high profile persons and other “protected” inmates who may be targeted by prisoners in other facilities.

A spokesman for the Department of Justice declined to comment on where Pell would be placed.

“Corrections Victoria does not discuss individual prisoners or placements,” the spokesman said.

“Corrections authorities conduct rigorous security and risk assessments on anyone coming into the prison system to ensure their placement is safe and secure.

“Prisoner placements are regularly monitored and reviewed, and may be modified where an assessment finds their risk and individual requirements have changed.”

Corrections Victoria describes Hopkins as a medium-security prison that has capacity for 762 prisoners “including a number of sex offenders and some remand prisoners”.

“The prison includes single, double and triple-bed accommodation and cottage accommodation, a unit for aged and medically infirm prisoners, as well as eight beds for offenders on continued detention,” the agency said on its website.

“At HCC, all prisoners capable of work are employed full-time and are allocated to an industry area such as wooden products, screen printing, metal fabrication, number plates printing, laundry, kitchen and general maintenance.”