Parklea Correctional Centre
 | |
| Location | Sydney, New South Wales |
|---|---|
| Status | Operational |
| Security class | Maximum (Male) |
| Capacity | Maximum - 750; Work release centre - 92 rooms |
| Opened | November, 1983 |
| Managed by | GEO Group Australia since October 2009 |
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. [1]
History
The prison was initially designated as a maximum security prison as a result of a recommendation of the Royal Commission into NSW Prisons (1976 - 1978).[2] Parklea received its first inmates in November, 1983. Prisoners began a riot on December 13, 1987. A second riot occurred on September 23, 1990 over new rules concerning the personal property of prisoners.[2] 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 31st 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 the 9th November that the correctional staff overtime budget across the NSW publicly-managed prisons had reduced by $70,000 a day.
References
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