There are a number of groups around the country that inspect prisons and provide feedback and recommendations to governments. These often involve visiting prisons and talking directly to people in custody.
South Australia
Man Unlawfully Kept in Prison For Months After Release Date
The South Australian Ombudsman has released a summary statement of its investigation into a man who was unlawfully kept in prison for months after his release date due to a “systems error”.
The man was not told this had happened for five years, with the Department for Correctional Services only informing him once the Ombudsman started investigating.
The SA Ombudsman found that the Department for Correctional Services had breached the law and international human rights standards by holding the man in prison far beyond the end of his sentence.
The state government has said it will not provide compensation to the man, despite the Ombudsman recommending it do so.
In a letter to the impacted man, the Department did not apologise or clearly explain that he may have a legal basis to make a claim against the state of South Australia, the Ombudsman said, with the onus placed on him to seek compensation.
The delay in telling the man what had happened was “serious and unacceptable”, the Ombudsman said.
“The seriousness of the Department’s error was exacerbated by the fact that the Department knew it had held the prisoner in error and failed to provide timely advice of this fact, offer an apology or make him aware of the compensation options available to him,” the Ombudsman report said.
The SA Ombudsman recommended that the Department review its systems across all of its prisons to make sure this does happen again, and implement a policy stating that if this happens again, the person is told as soon as possible and it is made clear that they are eligible for a pay-out.
The Ombudsman also recommended that the Department consider making an ex-gratia payment – a voluntary payment without admitting legal liability – to the man.
The Department agreed to the first two recommendations but has rejected the latter.
“Since this incident occurred six years ago, the Department and G4S have implemented new processes to manage prisoner release dates,” a spokesperson for the SA Department for Corrections told About Time.
“The government respectfully disagrees with the Ombudsman’s request to pay compensation.”
There are a number of groups around the country that inspect prisons and provide feedback and recommendations to governments. These often involve visiting prisons and talking directly to people in custody.
South Australia
Man Unlawfully Kept in Prison For Months After Release Date
The South Australian Ombudsman has released a summary statement of its investigation into a man who was unlawfully kept in prison for months after his release date due to a “systems error”.
The man was not told this had happened for five years, with the Department for Correctional Services only informing him once the Ombudsman started investigating.
The SA Ombudsman found that the Department for Correctional Services had breached the law and international human rights standards by holding the man in prison far beyond the end of his sentence.
The state government has said it will not provide compensation to the man, despite the Ombudsman recommending it do so.
In a letter to the impacted man, the Department did not apologise or clearly explain that he may have a legal basis to make a claim against the state of South Australia, the Ombudsman said, with the onus placed on him to seek compensation.
The delay in telling the man what had happened was “serious and unacceptable”, the Ombudsman said.
“The seriousness of the Department’s error was exacerbated by the fact that the Department knew it had held the prisoner in error and failed to provide timely advice of this fact, offer an apology or make him aware of the compensation options available to him,” the Ombudsman report said.
The SA Ombudsman recommended that the Department review its systems across all of its prisons to make sure this does happen again, and implement a policy stating that if this happens again, the person is told as soon as possible and it is made clear that they are eligible for a pay-out.
The Ombudsman also recommended that the Department consider making an ex-gratia payment – a voluntary payment without admitting legal liability – to the man.
The Department agreed to the first two recommendations but has rejected the latter.
“Since this incident occurred six years ago, the Department and G4S have implemented new processes to manage prisoner release dates,” a spokesperson for the SA Department for Corrections told About Time.
“The government respectfully disagrees with the Ombudsman’s request to pay compensation.”
Queensland
Capricornia Inspection Findings
The QLD Ombudsman has released findings from its inspection of Capricornia Correctional Centre.
The Ombudsman found positives around how First Nations people at the prison were able to maintain connection to culture, including through virtual Elders visits.
It also applauded the prison’s immunisation clinic.
But the Ombudsman identified issues around overcrowding at the prison, accessing medication, strip searching and high temperatures in cells.
The report said that people were having issues in getting medications that they had been prescribed in the community when they entered the prison.
It included an example of a man who had been on anti-convulsant medication for two years before he was imprisoned, but who had to wait six weeks to get that medication in custody.
The Capricornia prison is operating over-capacity, the Ombudsman said, with a modified unit routine leading to less time out of cells.
The prison has a capacity for 1,127 people, but there were 1,172 incarcerated there at the time of the inspection. Nearly half of all people in the prison are First Nations.
The Ombudsman recommended a new strategy be developed to increase out-of-cell time, for air-conditioning to be installed in all low-custody accommodation units, for better access to Sorry Business for First Nations people, and the introduction of digital scanners to reduce the number of strip searches.
Brisbane Correctional Centre Inspection Findings
By QLD Prisoners’ Legal Service
The Brisbane Correctional Centre Inspection Report was published by the Inspector of Detention Services QLD in April 2026.
The purpose of the report is to provide Queensland Parliament with advice and recommendations about the functioning of Brisbane Correctional Centre (BCC).
The recommendations put forward by the Inspector are aimed at ensuring that people’s basic rights are protected when:
- Entering the prison for the first time.
- Accessing information and courses whilst in prison.
- Accessing legal advice.
- Accessing health care.
- Making a formal complaint or raising a concern.
- Sharing cells.
- In lockdowns.
For example, the Inspector was concerned about the way lockdowns were being used at BCC.
The Inspector reported that since 2017 BCC was subject to a “Modified Unit Routine” (MUR) to help manage the effects of overcrowding.
Prisoners on the bottom landing would have out-of-cell time in the morning and prisoners of the top landing would get it in the afternoon.
The Inspector said this created an inequality because prisoners with out-of-cell time in the morning would be allowed 4 hours but prisoners with out-of-cell time in the afternoon would be unlocked for 4.5 hours.
The Inspector noted that prisoners who only accessed phones in the morning struggled to speak to their lawyers who were often in court.
While prisoners locked down in the afternoon struggled to access Elder visits and Sunday Services.
The MUR did not allow for prisoners to alternate between morning and afternoon out-of-cell time.
In addition, the Inspector said: “We reviewed unit logbooks across 6 units during 3 days of the onsite inspection and found that unlock and lock away times for the MUR were not recorded”.
Therefore, there was uncertainty on how the MUR was being used, and how much out-of-cell time was being facilitated.
Queensland Corrective Services responded to the Inspector’s concerns stating that:
“All prisoners at BCC who are not subject to any restrictions (for safety and security) receive four hours out-of-cell time. Should there be any variation to this, for example, an emergency lockdown, the details are recorded in the unit occurrence logbooks.”
The report has been tabled in Parliament, and another inspection will take place at BCC in five years.
Upcoming Inspections
The Queensland Ombudsman has wrapped up inspections of Capricornia, Numinbah, Lotus Glen, Woodford Correctional Centre and the Princess Alexandra Hospital Secure Unit and is preparing reports on its findings.
Consultation is currently open on a review into Brisbane Women’s Correctional Centre.
The Ombudsman is also currently looking into the maximum security units at Arthur Gorrie, Brisbane and Woodford Correctional Centres, with submissions now closed.
Western Australia
Upcoming Inspections
The Western Australian Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services (OICS) is preparing to release its findings from inspections of Melaleuca Women’s Prison.
These inspections were focused on governance, the early days of custody, duty of care, daily life and the prison and security.
It will also release its report into Eastern Goldfields Regional Prison by the end of the year, and will begin inspections of Bandyup Women’s Prison.
The OICS will inspect West Kimberley Regional Prison in September, with a report expected to be released by midway through next year.
This month the office will kick off a review into the cycle of overpopulation, with a focus on the experience and outcomes of those on remand, the rehabilitative capacity of the prison environment and the accessibility of parole.
This report will be provided to the Western Australian Parliament in June next year.
It is also conducting a review into the management of pregnant women in custody in the state. This is looking at whether the Department provides pregnant women in prison support and antenatal care that is equal to what is provided in the community, and the experiences of pregnant women in custody.
The OICS has appointed Jane Higgins as its new Acting Inspector. Inspector Eamon Ryan will be on extended leave until he retires in November.
New South Wales
Upcoming Inspections
The New South Wales Inspector of Custodial Services has announced inspections of Broken Hill Correctional Centre and Tamworth Correctional Centre in regional NSW.
It will also soon conduct inspections of the Emu Plains Correctional Centre and St Heliers Correctional Centre.
Queensland
Capricornia Inspection Findings
The QLD Ombudsman has released findings from its inspection of Capricornia Correctional Centre.
The Ombudsman found positives around how First Nations people at the prison were able to maintain connection to culture, including through virtual Elders visits.
It also applauded the prison’s immunisation clinic.
But the Ombudsman identified issues around overcrowding at the prison, accessing medication, strip searching and high temperatures in cells.
The report said that people were having issues in getting medications that they had been prescribed in the community when they entered the prison.
It included an example of a man who had been on anti-convulsant medication for two years before he was imprisoned, but who had to wait six weeks to get that medication in custody.
The Capricornia prison is operating over-capacity, the Ombudsman said, with a modified unit routine leading to less time out of cells.
The prison has a capacity for 1,127 people, but there were 1,172 incarcerated there at the time of the inspection. Nearly half of all people in the prison are First Nations.
The Ombudsman recommended a new strategy be developed to increase out-of-cell time, for air-conditioning to be installed in all low-custody accommodation units, for better access to Sorry Business for First Nations people, and the introduction of digital scanners to reduce the number of strip searches.
Brisbane Correctional Centre Inspection Findings
By QLD Prisoners’ Legal Service
The Brisbane Correctional Centre Inspection Report was published by the Inspector of Detention Services QLD in April 2026.
The purpose of the report is to provide Queensland Parliament with advice and recommendations about the functioning of Brisbane Correctional Centre (BCC).
The recommendations put forward by the Inspector are aimed at ensuring that people’s basic rights are protected when:
- Entering the prison for the first time.
- Accessing information and courses whilst in prison.
- Accessing legal advice.
- Accessing health care.
- Making a formal complaint or raising a concern.
- Sharing cells.
- In lockdowns.
For example, the Inspector was concerned about the way lockdowns were being used at BCC.
The Inspector reported that since 2017 BCC was subject to a “Modified Unit Routine” (MUR) to help manage the effects of overcrowding.
Prisoners on the bottom landing would have out-of-cell time in the morning and prisoners of the top landing would get it in the afternoon.
The Inspector said this created an inequality because prisoners with out-of-cell time in the morning would be allowed 4 hours but prisoners with out-of-cell time in the afternoon would be unlocked for 4.5 hours.
The Inspector noted that prisoners who only accessed phones in the morning struggled to speak to their lawyers who were often in court.
While prisoners locked down in the afternoon struggled to access Elder visits and Sunday Services.
The MUR did not allow for prisoners to alternate between morning and afternoon out-of-cell time.
In addition, the Inspector said: “We reviewed unit logbooks across 6 units during 3 days of the onsite inspection and found that unlock and lock away times for the MUR were not recorded”.
Therefore, there was uncertainty on how the MUR was being used, and how much out-of-cell time was being facilitated.
Queensland Corrective Services responded to the Inspector’s concerns stating that:
“All prisoners at BCC who are not subject to any restrictions (for safety and security) receive four hours out-of-cell time. Should there be any variation to this, for example, an emergency lockdown, the details are recorded in the unit occurrence logbooks.”
The report has been tabled in Parliament, and another inspection will take place at BCC in five years.
Upcoming Inspections
The Queensland Ombudsman has wrapped up inspections of Capricornia, Numinbah, Lotus Glen, Woodford Correctional Centre and the Princess Alexandra Hospital Secure Unit and is preparing reports on its findings.
Consultation is currently open on a review into Brisbane Women’s Correctional Centre.
The Ombudsman is also currently looking into the maximum security units at Arthur Gorrie, Brisbane and Woodford Correctional Centres, with submissions now closed.
Western Australia
Upcoming Inspections
The Western Australian Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services (OICS) is preparing to release its findings from inspections of Melaleuca Women’s Prison.
These inspections were focused on governance, the early days of custody, duty of care, daily life and the prison and security.
It will also release its report into Eastern Goldfields Regional Prison by the end of the year, and will begin inspections of Bandyup Women’s Prison.
The OICS will inspect West Kimberley Regional Prison in September, with a report expected to be released by midway through next year.
This month the office will kick off a review into the cycle of overpopulation, with a focus on the experience and outcomes of those on remand, the rehabilitative capacity of the prison environment and the accessibility of parole.
This report will be provided to the Western Australian Parliament in June next year.
It is also conducting a review into the management of pregnant women in custody in the state. This is looking at whether the Department provides pregnant women in prison support and antenatal care that is equal to what is provided in the community, and the experiences of pregnant women in custody.
The OICS has appointed Jane Higgins as its new Acting Inspector. Inspector Eamon Ryan will be on extended leave until he retires in November.
New South Wales
Upcoming Inspections
The New South Wales Inspector of Custodial Services has announced inspections of Broken Hill Correctional Centre and Tamworth Correctional Centre in regional NSW.
It will also soon conduct inspections of the Emu Plains Correctional Centre and St Heliers Correctional Centre.
