ACT inspector of correctional services review into Alexander Maconochie Centre says prison got worse

Meanwhile, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander detainees were subject to more than half of all "use-of-force" incidents at the jail, despite only making up 27 per cent of the prison's population.

The nine-month review into the Alexander Maconochie Centre, by the ACT inspector of correctional services, found there was a lack of a structured day at the jail and nearly 80 per cent of detainees were bored most of the time.

The review found there was a "gross shortfall" in programs delivered there and detainees were missing out on an "important key to rehabilitation".

Detainees reported a lack of education options as the centre has been without an education provider for more than 12 months.

The majority of detainees, 80 per cent, did not believe they were offered opportunities to do work at the jail that would help them get a job when they left.

Most detainees reported difficulties in accessing health care; 84 per cent said it was difficult to get general medical services and 88 per cent said it was difficult to get specialist services.

Access to mental health support was also difficult for most detainees; 71 per cent reported this was the case.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander detainees were vastly over-represented in "use of force" incidents, segregation orders and maximum security classifications.

The review found Indigenous detainees were subject to 55 per cent of "use-of-force" incidents in 2020-21. This was even higher for Indigenous female detainees, who made up 67 per cent of incidents.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander detainees also made up 41 per cent of maximum security classifications and accounted for 47 per cent of all segregation orders.

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An Indigenous person in the ACT was 21 times more likely to be imprisoned than a non-Indigenous person during the 2020-21 financial year.

The report from the ACT inspector of correctional services, Neil McAllister, was the second review of the Alexander Maconochie Centre, following a review conducted in 2019. The review took place from January 2022 to September 2022.

The review found the situation had deteriorated since the 2019 review took place. It made 29 recommendations for improvement.

The inspector highlighted the lack of a structured day as a huge issue for the centre.

"With very little to do all day, many detainees have no routine or daily responsibilities and as a result lack motivation to participate in their own rehabilitation and preparation for the release," the review said.

"There is little incentive for people to get out of bed and participate in daily activities, which the [inspector's office] finds entirely unacceptable.

"It is the [inspector's office's] view that in the years since first raising this issue, the situation has only become worse. Detainees are critical of their time at the AMC being a lost opportunity for meaningful rehabilitation and preparation for release."

The review found women had reported feeling unsafe and vulnerable given the accommodation options where sentenced and remand detainees are housed together, along with different classification levels of women detainees.

"In the women's accommodation there is no separation of cohorts. There is no area for protection, there is nowhere for people to be who require observation, there is no distinction between minimum and maximum classification," the review said.

The review also found accommodation pressures had presented challenges with overcrowding, especially as units have been closed at various times due to hailstorm damage, detainee disturbances, vandalism and fires.

"Many of the facilities at the AMC have not been upgraded or expanded in line with the growing detainee population," the review said.

"This presents unique challenges for the efficient and effective running of the centre and places considerable strain on services and infrastructure."

It said the design of the jail had reached its "use by date" as it operated as a minimum, medium and maximum security prison on one small footprint.

Recommendations put forward in the review including the introduction of a senior level Aboriginal identified head office position to drive policy, to amend policies and procedures around "use-of-force", to expand women's accommodation and to expand the use of telehealth.

The ACT Council of Social Service said the report highlighted serious issues with Canberra's prison and urged the government to respond to all recommendations.

"ACTCOSS welcomes these recommendations and calls on the ACT government to fully address the worsening problems experienced by AMC detainees in vital areas such as education, health, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander over-representation and women's safety," ACTCOSS head of policy Gemma Killen said.

The Canberra Times asked the office of Corrections Minister Mick Gentleman if the government had a response to the report.

In a statement, a spokeswoman from the Justice and Community Safety Directorate said the government would consider the report.

The spokeswoman said the government had made progress throughout the parliamentary term to improve outcomes for staff and detainees.

"The ACT government will carefully consider this report and how the recommendations can support improvements already underway at the AMC," the spokeswoman said.

"A range of reforms have been implemented at AMC, which are having short-term benefits and will pay greater dividends in the long term.

"The past couple of years, which this report reflects, have been particularly challenging. We have all experienced impacts on our wellbeing resulting from the necessary restrictions, including those detained at AMC."

You can read the full report here.

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