Port Phillip Prison Explained

Prison Name:Port Phillip Prison
Location:Truganina, Victoria
Status:Operational
Classification:Maximum (Male)
Capacity:1117,[1] as at 30 June 2019
Managed By:G4S Australia Pty Ltd

-37.8283°N 144.7522°WPort Phillip Prison is a maximum security prison located at Truganina, Victoria, Australia. It is Victoria's largest maximum security prison, able to accommodate up to 1117 prisoners.[2] The prison is privately operated on behalf of the Government of Victoria by G4S Australia Pty Ltd.[3] The prison is expected to close in December 2025, with prisoners to be relocated to the Western Plains Correctional Centre in Lara.[4]

History

Originally cited to be called Metropolitan Men's Prison the facility was renamed prior to its opening to Port Phillip Prison.[5] The facility was the third privately-operated prison to open in Victoria. It received its first prisoners on 10 September 1997.[2]

G4S confirmed that a prison officer resigned in April 2016 after 100 weapons were seized from his home by Victoria Police as part of an ongoing investigation into firearms offences.[6]

In 2022, a 16 year old boy was held in maximum security for almost four months, against advice from the sentencing judge, during which time he was routinely held in isolation and confined to his cell for 23 hours a day.[7]

Accommodation units

The prison consists of 13 accommodation units including a youth unit named Penhyn for young adult inmates aged 18–25 who are first time offenders only with no criminal record. All other under 25 prisoners are sent to mainstream units. The induction unit named Matilda is divided into two and all prisoners spend time there before being located to other accommodation units. Cells within the units have a shower, hand basin, toilet, desk, chair, television, storage shelves, intercom and bed.[3]

The prison operates a 20-bed inpatient hospital unit.[3]

Notable prisoners

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Port Phillip Prison.
  2. Web site: Port Phillip Prison . G4S . 2011-10-27 . 2 April 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120402123014/http://www.au.g4s.com/what-we-do/?content=ppp . dead .
  3. Web site: Port Phillip Prison . Department of Justice, Victoria . 2011-10-27.
  4. Web site: Rooney . Kieran . Carmody . Broede . 2024-06-26 . Port Phillip Prison to close as new Lara centre opens . subscription . 2024-06-30 . The Age . en.
  5. Private Contract Management of Prisons – Exploring Key Policy and Implementation Issues . 145 . Australian Institute of Criminology . 16–17 June 1997 . 2011-10-27.
  6. Web site: November 17, 2017 . Prison officer resigns after police probe into firearm offences . Herald Sun.
  7. News: Bucci . Nino . 9 October 2022 . 'Dying is normal in this jail': teenager held in Port Phillip prison for four months . Guardian Australia . 12 June 2023.
  8. Web site: DPP v Debs & Roberts [2003] VSC 30 (24 February 2003)]. 4 December 2015.
  9. Web site: Minister wants answers on police killer's model role. 7 March 2003 . 4 December 2015.
  10. Web site: Blair Cottrell jail interviews. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/lyr_4x_n3Rg . 2021-12-21 . live. Youtube.