Parklea Correctional Centre
Encyclopedia
Parklea Correctional Centre is a privately managed maximum security remand prison for male inmates with a current capacity for 823 inmates. The prison is located in Sydney
, New South Wales
, Australia
and is managed by the GEO group Australia. The centre incorporates a minimum security work release centre for inmates nearing release with a capacity of 80. There is also a 96-bed therapeutic community unit for offenders undertaking cognitive behavioural programs.
into NSW Prisons (1976 - 1978). Parklea received its first inmates in November, 1983. Prisoners began a riot
on 13 December 1987. A second riot occurred on 23 September 1990 over new rules concerning the personal property of prisoners. The prison was reclassified from maximum security to medium security after the riots and was designated as a correctional prison for young offenders in February 1992. In 2001 Parklea was reclassified to maximum security, and inmate numbers were expanded.
In the 2008 'mini-budget', the New South Wales government announced its plans to privatise two prisons, Parklea and Cessnock Correctional Centre
. While the privatisation of Cessnock was eventually ruled out, Parklea remained on track for outsourcing in October 2009. On 30 September 2009 it was announced that GEO Group Australia
had been awarded the contract to manage Parklea Correctional Centre, commencing on 1 November 2009.
GEO assumed responsibility for operations at 06.00 on 31 October 2009, the handover representing the first time an operational publicly-managed prison had been transferred to private management.
In response to parliamentary questions in November 2009 the NSW Minister for Corrections the Hon. John Robertson described the transition as 'hugely successful'.
The transition involved GEO seconding staff from its other prisons in NSW, Victoria and Queensland. To ensure robust oversight of the transition process, and that GEO complied with its obligations Corrective Services New South Wales (the commissioning body for the project) installed a team of senior staff on-site for the period of transition.
The financial impact of the privatisation of Parklea Correctional Centre was immediate with media reporting on 9 November that the correctional staff overtime budget across the NSW publicly-managed prisons had reduced by $70,000 a day.
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and is managed by the GEO group Australia. The centre incorporates a minimum security work release centre for inmates nearing release with a capacity of 80. There is also a 96-bed therapeutic community unit for offenders undertaking cognitive behavioural programs.
History
The prison was initially designated as a maximum security prison as a result of a recommendation of the Royal CommissionRoyal Commission
In Commonwealth realms and other monarchies a Royal Commission is a major ad-hoc formal public inquiry into a defined issue. They have been held in various countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia...
into NSW Prisons (1976 - 1978). Parklea received its first inmates in November, 1983. Prisoners began a riot
Riot
A riot is a form of civil disorder characterized often by what is thought of as disorganized groups lashing out in a sudden and intense rash of violence against authority, property or people. While individuals may attempt to lead or control a riot, riots are thought to be typically chaotic and...
on 13 December 1987. A second riot occurred on 23 September 1990 over new rules concerning the personal property of prisoners. The prison was reclassified from maximum security to medium security after the riots and was designated as a correctional prison for young offenders in February 1992. In 2001 Parklea was reclassified to maximum security, and inmate numbers were expanded.
In the 2008 'mini-budget', the New South Wales government announced its plans to privatise two prisons, Parklea and Cessnock Correctional Centre
Cessnock Correctional Centre
Cessnock Correctional Centre is a minimum and maximum security Australian prison for males, located in Cessnock, New South Wales, Australia. It is the reception prison for the Newcastle and Hunter Region.-Notable prisoners:*William MacDonald...
. While the privatisation of Cessnock was eventually ruled out, Parklea remained on track for outsourcing in October 2009. On 30 September 2009 it was announced that GEO Group Australia
GEO Group Australia
The GEO Group Australia Pty Ltd is an Australian company, responsible for the management of privatised prisons in Australia. Its head office is on Level 18 in the National Mutual Center in the Sydney CBD in the City of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales....
had been awarded the contract to manage Parklea Correctional Centre, commencing on 1 November 2009.
GEO assumed responsibility for operations at 06.00 on 31 October 2009, the handover representing the first time an operational publicly-managed prison had been transferred to private management.
In response to parliamentary questions in November 2009 the NSW Minister for Corrections the Hon. John Robertson described the transition as 'hugely successful'.
The transition involved GEO seconding staff from its other prisons in NSW, Victoria and Queensland. To ensure robust oversight of the transition process, and that GEO complied with its obligations Corrective Services New South Wales (the commissioning body for the project) installed a team of senior staff on-site for the period of transition.
The financial impact of the privatisation of Parklea Correctional Centre was immediate with media reporting on 9 November that the correctional staff overtime budget across the NSW publicly-managed prisons had reduced by $70,000 a day.