Four body scanners are being installed at Goulburn Correctional Centre as part of a state government campaign to stop the smuggling of drugs and contraband into prisons.
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The NSW Government has committed $18.6 million to install 70 body scanners at correctional centres across the state - part of a $2.9 billion investment in the 2020-21 NSW Budget in Corrective Services NSW operations.
"This $18.6 million investment is a crack-down on contraband. It will enhance community safety and ensure our correctional centres are better equipped to detect illegal items and most importantly, reduce drug use among inmates," NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said.
Two scanners have been installed at the Goulburn Correctional Centre. The third has already been installed at Goulburn's High Risk Management Correctional Centre ('Supermax'), the highest security prison in the state, while the other is being installed.
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The X-ray devices aim to end the inmate practice of internally secreting and smuggling items into prisons, a Corrective Services NSW spokeswoman said. Inmates will be screened on arrival at the centre and after each contact visit.
Mobile phones, drugs, alcohol, tobacco, lighters, syringes, sim cards, charges, computers, and offensive weapons are considered contraband, and prohibited from entering prisons.
Anyone caught smuggling these items into prisons faces heavy criminal penalties, including up to two years' imprisonment and a $5500 fine.
"The safe and secure operation of our prisons is an investment in community safety," NSW Minister for Counter Terrorism and Corrections Anthony Roberts said. "Keeping inmates off drugs and on the path to rehabilitation is crucial to reducing reoffending rates.
"By significantly reducing the trafficking of contraband in prisons, we can create greater opportunities for detox programs and increase engagement in education and therapeutic programs, aimed at addressing offending behaviour."
Stopping smuggling
The body scanners are not Goulburn Correctional Centre's only weapon against smuggling. Staff - including the highly trained Security Operations Group and their 'K9' dog unit - make targeted and random searches for illegal items on inmates, visitors, cells, all common areas, and perimeter fences, the Corrective Services NSW spokeswoman said.
They have foiled several attempts this year to traffic contraband into Goulburn Correctional Centre.
On October 12, the spokeswoman said, Goulburn officers discovered a backpack hidden under the garbage lining of a bin on the correctional complex. Contraband seized in the bag included around 160g of opioid buprenorphine, 750g of tobacco, tobacco papers, other drugs, tea tree oil, aloe vera cream, USB charging devices, hand sanitiser and a toy car set.
On September 29, officers from the Security Operations Group were patrolling the prison perimeter when they saw a man throw a cricket ball over the fence before fleeing in a car. Staff retrieved the ball which included a package of buprenorphine strips, weighing just under 9g.
On June 23, vigilant correctional staff located several packages near the perimeter fence close to the industries area of the prison. Inside the packages were packets of tobacco and tobacco papers, cigarette lighters, chewing gum, a tub of hair gel, headphones, a phone charger and SIM cards.
NSW Police are notified of such incidents.
Reducing reoffending
"Corrections staff work tirelessly to engage and educate inmates, so they have the best chance of leading a law-abiding life post-release," the Corrective Services NSW spokeswoman said.
Inmates at Goulburn Correctional Centre with needs related to substance abuse or misuse can participate in the EQUIPS Addiction program. They can also be referred to programs at other prisons including a High Intensity Program Unit and the Intensive Drug and Alcohol Treatment Program.
Goulburn Correctional Centre runs industries including food services, textiles, refurbishing demountable rooms, community projects and a furniture workshop.
"Vocational training improves offenders' employment opportunities when they are released from custody," the spokeswoman said.
Inmates can also complete literacy and numeracy courses to focus on their basic learning needs.
"We know that having inmates engaged in education and work opportunities inside prison drastically decreases their chances of reoffending post-release," the spokeswoman said.
The NSW Budget also includes funding of more than $372 million to manage offenders in the community, almost $349 million for offender management services, and almost $109 million to better supervise serious sex offenders in the community and reduce reoffending and protect the community.
The Budget will also allocate $12.3 million for a range of community-based programs aimed at countering violent extremism.
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