Junee Jail Staffing Levels to Remain Unchanged Despite Inmate Increase

A recent inquest has heard that Junee Correctional Centre in southern New South Wales will not be increasing its staff despite taking on an additional 100 inmates from the now-closed Goulburn prison.

The inquest, which concluded on Wednesday, was examining the circumstances surrounding the death of 40-year-old inmate Alexander Gavranic, who died by suicide in his cell at Junee Correctional Centre in February 2023.

Increased Inmate Numbers

Junee Correctional Centre governor Troy Seychelles told the inquest that the centre's population had increased from 714 to 944 inmates following the transfer from Goulburn. While the centre has a capacity to house around 1,200 inmates, Mr Seychelles said there were no plans for further resourcing.

"We were at a maximum of 714 [inmates]; as of Monday [it] increased to 944," Mr Seychelles said.

"Goulburn Centre is closing at the end of the week; [a] majority of those inmates have been decanted to my centre."

Mr Seychelles added that the centre's staffing levels would remain unchanged, despite the increased inmate population.

"My establishment is essentially set."

Mental Health Concerns

The inquest also heard concerns about the mental health support available to inmates at Junee Correctional Centre. Mental health nurse Bernadette Barton told the court that she and her counterpart were responsible for 400 inmates awaiting mental health care, and that they often had to prioritise urgent cases.

"We barely scratched the surface; we didn't get to everybody that we wanted to, or everybody that we tried to,"

Mr Gavranic, who died in his cell, had been on a mental health waitlist for 309 days at the time of his death.

System in Crisis

Barrister Matthew Hutchings, representing Mr Gavranic's family, described the prison system as "truly a system in crisis." He endorsed recommendations for improved pathways and transparency within the prison system for accessing mental health support, but questioned whether these changes would make a significant difference.

"What difference is it going to make if there are better pathways or notifications, if it doesn't carry with it an availability of services for people such as Alex in the prison system?"

The inquest's findings are expected to be handed down in October.