Lawyer says drugs available to prisoners at Capricornia Correctional Centre

In a shock revelation for a Central Queensland prisoner, he has told his lawyer that “drugs are available” in jail and he has tried to avoid them.

Capricornia Correctional Centre at Rockhampton.

In a disturbing revelation, a court has heard that illicit drugs “are available” to prisoners at Capricornia Correctional Centre.

Solicitor Stacey O’Gorman was representing 21-year-old Kade Philip Porter in Gladstone Magistrates Court this month where the revelation came to light.

Porter appeared in court via video link from pre-sentence custody at the Rockhampton jail.

He pleaded guilty to numerous offences including drug possession and not giving police access to information stored on his mobile phone.

Solicitor Stacey O'Gorman. Photo Brett McWaters/The Observer.

O’Gorman explained Porter’s “spiralling” problems with the drugs cannabis, cocaine, MDMA and particularly methamphetamine.

She told the court, to “(Porter’s) surprise, he has instructed me he realised that drugs are available in prison.”

Ms O’Gorman added that Porter had made efforts to avoid these drugs while in custody.

“Upon entering prison he realised that this could be his future and he doesn’t want that,” Ms O’Gorman said.

This publication asked Queensland Corrective Services if it was concerned by the comment that drugs were available at Capricornia Correctional Centre.

However there was no direct answer given in QCS’s response.

Inside Capricornia Correctional Centre.

The QCS spokesperson did say that QCS had a “zero tolerance approach to the introduction and use of drugs in correctional centres.”

“Correctional centres are controlled environments for a reason and illicit substances endanger the safety of our officers, prisoners and visitors,” the spokesperson said.

“We work closely with the Queensland Police Service to hold accountable anyone attempting to introduce substances or use them while in custody.

“QCS has a range of measures to target the introduction and use of illicit substances and prohibited items in facilities.”

Inside Capricornia Correctional Centre.

When asked if QCS checked Capricornia Correctional Centre prisoners, prison staff and external workers entering the facility for drugs, the QCS spokesperson said: “Before entering a corrective services facility, visitors may be required to undertake a general search, scanning or x-ray under the Corrective Services Act 2006.

“All prisoners received into custody are subject to a physical search.

“Information sharing and staff vigilance is having real and measurable impacts - we conduct searches of those entering custody and use drug detection dogs and random searches throughout the centre.

“As a forward-thinking organisation, we are always considering new measures to further enhance the agency’s contraband disruption strategies.”

Inside Capricornia Correctional Centre

QCS provided the following examples of successful contraband detections in 2023:

- Corrections dog sniffs out major drug haul at Woodford Correctional Centre

- Major contraband finds at Borallon Training and Correctional Centre

- Townsville custodial correctional officers disrupt drug plans

- Commissioner praises efforts of officers at Lotus Glen Correctional Centre

Originally published as Lawyer says drugs available to prisoners at Capricornia Correctional Centre