EXCLUSIVE
A prison brochure promising ‘communal-style living’, a cafe for three-hour family visits and a chance to ‘see the stars at night’ has been produced to attract inmates to a maximum security jail.
The pamphlet was printed to encourage prisoners to seek a transfer to the Hunter Correctional Centre, near the Pokolbin vineyards in the picturesque NSW Hunter Valley.
Under the headline ‘Welcome!’ the document advises inmates in other NSW jails that Hunter Correctional Centre is ‘less than two hours from Sydney’ in the sprawling Cessnock prison complex.
‘What sets Hunter CC apart is the open plan “dorm-style” accommodation and our aim to provide offenders with ample opportunity to pursue education, programs [and] social activities in a safe and friendly environment,’ it states.
According to the brochure, the ‘Perks of HUN CC’ include ‘3hr visits with access to cafe and play equipment for children’ and ‘access to the yard til 9pm – see the stars at night’.
As well as ‘communal-style living’, the facility boasts ‘monthly cafe buy-up and weekly meat and egg buy-up for your pod BBQ’ and ‘fully equipped gym with racquetball in all pod yards”.
The extra ‘buy-ups’ – which in most jails refers to the purchase of items such as additional groceries, confectionary and toiletries – include highly coveted ASICS runners every six months.
Hunter Correctional Centre houses 400 male inmates convicted of crimes including murder and child sex offences. All of its occupants are on some form of protection.
A brochure promoting Hunter Correctional Centre (above) promises ‘communal style living’, a cafe for three-hour family visits and a chance to ‘see the stars at night’
Among the ‘extra-curriculars’ offered by the jail are traineeships, TAFE qualifications, university opportunities, fitness and nutrition courses, boot camps and yoga classes.
For those with creative inclinations there are music classes and recording sessions, programs for art, pottery and craft. There is a selection of board games and the chance to work on origami.
The pamphlet features a glowing review from a former inmate below the headline ‘Our Past Residents Say… ‘.
‘I’ve wasted a lot of my time in prison… It’s the first chance I’ve had to actually gain something… to go back to studying, when I haven’t studied since I was a teenager,’ that offender states.
That quote appears to have been taken from an ABC news website story about the prison published in October last year.
Under another heading, ‘Ready for a change?’ inmates wishing a transfer to Hunter are advised to speak to the officer who deals with security classifications at their present jail.
‘If the information contained in this pamphlet appeals to you, or you would like more information, refer yourself to your local Classo Officer who can provide you with information about your next steps,’ it states.
A Corrective Services NSW spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia the ‘language and tone’ used in the leaflet was inappropriate and the invitation would not be further used.
The pamphlet has been produced to encourage prisoners to seek a transfer to the Hunter Correctional Centre (above), near the Pokolbin vineyards in the picturesque NSW Hunter Valley
‘Posters and leaflets are used regularly in NSW prisons to communicate to inmates what programs, work and training opportunities are available,’ the spokeswoman said.
‘These types of materials are generally developed ad-hoc on a local level as needed to encourage engagement and participation.
‘This leaflet was originally developed several years ago to encourage inmates to consider making an application for placement within dormitory-style accommodation. It was then updated for use at Hunter Correctional Centre.
‘We accept the language and tone of the leaflet is not appropriate, and it will be removed from distribution.’
The brochure was posted on The Last Governor Facebook page, which is monitored by former and serving prison officers who mocked the initiative.
‘This is all well and good but what about Frequent Flyer points, or Fly Buys?’ one user wrote.
Other comments included, ‘Are they not getting enough repeat customers?’, ‘I love it, how do I book a room!’ and ‘May as well get the inmates to do a TripAdvisor review when they leave’.
Hunter Correctional Centre was recently designated a special management area prison, housing inmates at risk in the mainstream jail population.
According to the brochure, ‘Perks of HUN CC’ include ‘3hr visits with access to cafe and play equipment for children’ and ‘access to the yard til 9pm – see the stars at night’
Inmates are given comparatively more freedoms than those at most jails but are managed within a strict ‘no-violence’ policy.
Jail authorities have previously said the dormitory-style management system has proven to lower rates of violence.
One Facebook user strongly defended Hunter Correctional Centre after the brochure was revealed.
‘Disappointing that some officers are also shaming programs that are set up for people to get their acts together and make something of themselves,’ she wrote.
‘I’ve visited a fair few prisons and Hunter is by far punching above its weight.
‘Their security allows for no black spots and their zero-tolerance to violence ensures that prisoners who are there to get it together aren’t influenced or affected by anti-social behaviour.
‘I can also vouch that officer morale appears to be a lot better there – which also adds to maintaining good order.’
Hunter CC opened in January 2018 as the second ‘rapid-build’ prison in NSW, following the establishment of Macquarie Correctional Centre at Wellington in the state’s central west in December the previous year.
Hunter Correctional Centre houses a range of inmates convicted of crimes including murder and sex offences. Many of its occupants are on some form of protection. ‘Residents’ are pictured
Under the headline ‘Welcome!’ the document advises inmates in other NSW jails that Hunter Correctional Centre is ‘less than 2 hours from Sydney’ in the sprawling Cessnock prison complex
Its design features four wings, each with four dormitories – or ‘pods’ – housing 25 inmates in office-sized cubicles. Each cubicle has a desk, chair, mattress and a 60cm interactive television.
Each pod has eight bathroom cubicles which contain a toilet, sink and shower. Only one inmate is allowed in the cubicle at any time, allowing for greater privacy and security.
There are more than 600 CCTV cameras watching over the entire prison with the capacity to zoom in so close the operators can read newsprint in an inmate’s hands.
The whole facility is controlled by a central command post from where all doors, alarms and other devices can be operated and monitored.
Jail authorities touted the facility, which was built in just 12 months, as the future of rehabilitating some of the state’s worst offenders.
While the prison’s inmates have privileges not found in other maximum security jails, they all work and undergo education programs, readying them for life outside.
They are also under some of the most intense surveillance of any prison in the country and an elite armed immediate action team provides a constant response capability for any incident.
At certain times within their sentence, inmates jailed in NSW can make an application for transfer to a different jail which is assessed and decided by Corrective Services.
