Construction of Victoria’s newest prison is approaching completion, with an extra 1000 beds to be added to the system when it opens at the end of the year.
Minister for Corrections Gayle Tierney inspected construction today and announced that the prison will be named the Ravenhall Correctional Centre.
Located in Ravenhall in Melbourne’s west – near the Metropolitan Remand Centre and Dame Phyllis Frost Centre – the new medium security prison will be managed by GEO Group, under contract to the Victorian Government.
The prison has been a major boost to Victoria’s economy, creating more than 1400 jobs during construction and around 700 additional ongoing positions once it becomes operational.
GEO will deliver a range of innovative pre and post-release reintegration programs to keep the community safe.
In a first for Victoria, the contract with GEO includes targets for reducing the rate of prisoners reoffending once they are released from custody, including reducing recidivism by 14 per cent for Aboriginal prisoners.
Ravenhall Correctional Centre will include 75 dedicated forensic mental-health beds, more than doubling the current number across the system, as well as providing mental-health services to a further 100 prisoners.
GEO has significant experience operating prisons in Victoria and across Australia, having managed the Fulham Correctional Centre in Gippsland for the last 20 years.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Corrections Gayle Tierney
“As well as keeping our community safe, this huge project is boosting our economy and creating thousands of jobs.”
“The Ravenhall Correctional Centre will focus on reducing reoffending especially amongst Aboriginal prisoners, younger prisoners, and those with a mental illness.”
“With most buildings now complete the Ravenhall Correctional Centre will start taking prisoners before the end of the year, adding 1000 much needed beds to the system.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020