Hobart Remand Centre at Risdon almost ready to open
Tasmania’s newest prison is designed to be a “safe and welcoming” place both for prisoners awaiting trial and the staff who watch over them. PHOTOS + VIDEO>>>
Tasmania
Don't miss out on the headlines from Tasmania. Followed categories will be added to My News.
TASMANIA’S newest prison is designed to be a “safe and welcoming” place both for prisoners awaiting trial and the staff who watch over them.
The first occupants of the $85m Hobart Remand Centre at Risdon are expected to move in within weeks.
It is the state’s first purpose-built remand prison, intended to ease pressure on other custodial facilities. Each of the 156 cells in the complex has a computer and a phone so inmates can stay in touch with their families and their lawyers.
Every aspect of the project, from the furniture, to the lighting and the colour scheme has been carefully chosen.
“We don’t want it to look like a dungeon, far from that,” says Director of Prisons Ian Thomas.
“If you make people feel safe and settled and welcomed, then more much more quickly can you move them into a space where they’re focusing on addressing their offending behaviour and starting to rehabilitate.
“It’s a state of the art facility. It’s based on best practice design and research from around the world.”
“In many ways, it looks as least like a prison as possible. It’s light, its airy, it’s colourful. And it’s it gives prisoners access to the type of services and the type of engagement that they need to feel safe, to feel settled, and then start almost from day one on what are their individual rehabilitation journeys.”
Corrections and Rehabilitation Minister Elise Archer said the new centre was part of a $415m upgrade of corrections
“I’m very pleased this facility, it provides not only fit for purpose facilities, but has a real focus on rehabilitation.
“You’ll see that there’s sporting facilities, there’s lots of activities for people that will be housed here.
“There’s phones in the cells so that remandees, particularly on their first night in this facility can call a nominated number.
‘They’ll have easy access to their lawyers, which is obviously been an issue that we’ve encountered over time.
“We’ve tried to address every issue and particularly have that rehabilitation focus … there’s lots of lighting, there’s colour used, there’s garden facilities, a fixed gym, outside barbecue facilities.
“It really does address the issues that have been identified by correctional officers throughout this process.
“They’ve been deep in consultation with designers in the architectural team as well, so that that practical input can be put into the design of this purpose built facility.
Premier exploring options for approval of $5bn Marinus deal
Premier Jeremy Rockliff is exploring ways to green light Tasmania's $5bn Marinus Link project during the caretaker period despite Labor's reluctance to support the deal.
Short delay in teacher abuse trial, Crown to close case on Monday
The trial of a former Hobart teacher accused of sexually abusing multiple students over several decades beginning in the 1970s has been delayed due to the illness of key legal personnel.