Prison overcrowding putting public at risk
Chronic prison overcrowding has led to an increase in prison violence and will put the public at risk with of more criminal jailbreaks, documents obtained by 7News reveal.
Written by prison guards and compiled by the Together Union, the documents detail concerns for the public and claim prisoners are fast tracked to lower security due to overcrowding.
The documents are to be reviewed by State Parliament’s legal affairs and community safety committee and note the numerous Queensland prisons housing more criminals than they should.
Wolston prison, home to Daniel Morcombe's murderer Brett Peter Cowan and Corrupt former labor minister Gordon Nuttall, was built to house 300 prisoners.
It is currently housing 374.
Brisbane Correctional Centre is also full to the brim, keeping 572 prisoners.
Lotus Glen at Mareeba was built for 580 inmates and currently houses 600, plus 20 on mattresses.
Capricornia near Rockhampton houses 28 more prisoners than it should, with 358 living in a facility made for 330.
Most are bunking down in cells designed for one.
“When an inmate was told he would have to share a room, the result was the prisoner assaulted the officer,” the document reads.
Secure 7 is a 24 cell unit and has been accommodating 42 prisoners.
At the Rockhampton jails, guards say dog squad shifts have been cut.
“The loss of the dog squad at night is a direct risk to escape and to the safety of staff on a night shift,” the document reads.
Cars have been spotted on the perimeter of a prison farm where a murderer and an armed robber fled earlier this year.
The abolition of the dog squad at night has removed any deterrent to vehicles entering the reserve.
Guards say security for escorts between prison, courts and hospitals has dropped to levels not seen since before Queensland’s biggest jailbreak involving Brendan Abbott.
Officers are asking for weapons to prevent the threat of external persons assisting in the escape.
Besides punishment, a key aim of prison is to reduce reoffending.
But officers say because of cuts to programs, and work hours "rehabilitation is non-existent".
The committee will hand down its report in October.
In a statement, the state's attorney did not deny the claims of prison guards.
Jarrod Bleijie said 'the prisoner-on-staff assault rate has decreased, and so have escapes’.
This year's budget will deliver more than 650 new prison beds.
It does not say if they will be single or shared cells.
