LIFE BEHIND BARS
REPORTER LUCY SMITH AND PHOTOGRAPHER EVAN MORGAN GO INSIDE STUART PRISON FOR A LOOK AT LIFE BEHIND BARS
PRISON is often described as “too good” for people who commit heinous crimes, but the general public rarely gets a glimpse into what goes on behind bars. Townsville’s men’s prison opened its doors to media during the week, giving journalists a rare look at life inside. It’s the first time in years the Bulletin has been invited to Townsville Correctional Centre at Stuart to see where prisoners eat and sleep.
Stuart is a sprawling prison made up of high- security cell blocks, a prison farm and housing for dangerous sexual offenders who are no longer on custodial sentences.
When prisoners are first brought to Stuart, they are given a room in one of the four 50bed high- security cell blocks.
Their small cell – made up of not much more than a single bed, set of shelves, toilet and television – is where they will spend 14 hours a day.
After being assessed, better- behaved offenders will be moved to lower security cells.
Prison general manager Jon Francis- Jones said prison staff began unlocking cells at 7.30am each day.
Prisoners head to work at 8am, return for lunch at 11.30am, return to work at 1pm then go back to their cell blocks at 4.30pm. They have an hour to eat and socialise before they are locked up in their cells for the night.
“That routine, while it’s important, can on some occasions have a negative effect – we end up with longer- term prisoners who are institutionalised,” Mr Francis- Jones said.
“There is no remedy to that, other than we progress them through and get them ready for release at a time when that’s applicable for them.”
As the media is taken past the activities hall, prisoners flock to witness the rare deviation in routine. They jump, shout, pose for photos. One pulls out a guitar and starts playing; another gives us the finger.
“Put your shirt back on,” an officer shouts across the hall, like a schoolteacher to an unruly student.
Overcrowding is an issue at the prison, which is built for 503 and is housing 647. It’s a reflection of Townsville’s increasing number of violent and property crimes.
“There have been bunks fitted to some of the cells, so we’re very focused on giving everybody a bed,” Mr Francis- Jones said.
“We can’t achieve that all the time, but we’re very focused on that.”
Ninety- four per cent of the prison’s population is fit enough to work or study.
Prisoners can work in the on- site industrial laundry, which services the Townsville Hospital, or the on- site metal shop, trailer assembly workshop, tailor shop or in prison cleaning and maintenance roles.