Violence between inmates spikes in Tasmanian prisons while inmate-on-staff assaults remain stable

Inmate-on-inmate violence jumped in Tasmanian prisons over the past year, with 120 assaults and 10 serious assaults, including attacks leading to stitches, fractures and broken teeth.

Body scanners are being rolled out at the Mary Hutchinson Women’s Prison, Hobart and Launceston Reception Prisons, and the Risdon Prison complex. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Inmate-on-inmate violence jumped in Tasmanian prisons over the past year, with 120 assaults and 10 serious assaults.

According to the Department of Justice’s 2022–23 annual report, tabled in parliament this week, an assault is defined in any violence resulting in physical injuries, while a serious assault is one requiring overnight hospitalisation, ongoing treatment, or any sexual assault.

Any injuries resulting in stitches, fractures or broken teeth are also classified as serious.

The report revealed there were 120 assaults in 2022–23 compared to 105 the year prior and 112 in 2020–21.

In the past year, there were 10 serious inmate-on-inmate assaults, compared to seven the year prior and 12 in 2020–21.

However, inmate-on-staff violence did not experience a similar jump, with 27 assaults in 2022–23, a drop from 29 the year prior.

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There were three serious assaults on staff in the past year compared to two in 2021–22.

The annual report also revealed there were 130 people currently being monitored under electronic devices as of June 30 this year, including 46 offenders on home detention, 57 on parole and 29 on family violence orders.

This was a decrease from the 165 people being monitored the year prior.

The department also reported there had been a massive spike in people raising flags of “reportable behaviour” from those registered to work with vulnerable people, including children.

In 2022–23, the unit managing registrations received more than 83,500 reports of reportable behaviour compared to more than 45,200 reports the year prior.

Those reports led to 1487 additional risk assessments being conducted over the past year, leading to 45 suspensions and 27 cancellations.

The report also revealed the project to install body scanners across Tasmanian prisoners was “well-advanced”, with the technology expected to be operational this year.

Mary Hutchinson Women's Prison

The $1.3m project will install body scanners at the Mary Hutchinson Women’s Prison, Hobart and Launceston Reception Prisons, and the Risdon Prison complex.

“The new full-body scanners will be able to detect objects on or inside a person’s body and clothing without the need to physically remove items of clothing or make any physical contact with the person being searched,” the report said.

Architectural drawings have been completed and staff training is currently being conducted.