Greenough regional prison escape sounds warning bells

The escape at Greenough Regional Prison is not surprising to public servants working in the centre.

CPSU/CSA Delegates working in Corrective Services warned Senior Executives at the Department of Justice, that the situation across all prisons “was dire” at their last Joint Consultative Committee meeting.

Toni Walkington, CPSU/CSA Secretary;

“Greenough staff have told their Union the facility’s treatment courses are not being run, education and vocational programs have been cut and prisoners are spending large amounts of time in their cells.

“The prison system has been decimated by successive cuts to jobs in vocational, education and treatment services with the most recent Voluntary Targeted Severance Scheme, bringing facilities to breaking point.

“The Minister needs to prioritise programs and services to ensure the safety of staff, prisoners and the community.

“Across the system over 800 Individual Management Plans, which map-out the programs and activities prisoners should be doing to improve their prospects of rehabilitation, remain outstanding. Therefore, there is significant risk that programs will be cancelled next year.”