A 440-bed expansion has boosted the capacity at Silverwater’s Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre (MRRC) to 1,540 inmates, cutting back on the need to transfer high risk remand prisoners to and from regional areas.
The project includes four new 110-bed accommodation blocks, recreational areas, a new health centre, program rooms and upgrades to existing facilities, and Corrective Services NSW (CSNSW) Commissioner Peter Severin says the introduction of extra program areas will help inmates get their lives back on track sooner.
“It’s a priority for Corrective Services to reduce reoffending and this expansion forms part of our commitment to creating a more efficient, rehabilitation-focused system,” he said.
“The new facilities include purpose-built rooms for therapeutic programs to ensure inmates have access to addiction and behaviour-change support services while on remand.”
Minister for Counter Terrorism and Corrections, Anthony Roberts, officially opened the additions last week and says they will ensure Corrective Services resources are “used more effectively” and reduce the need to transfer inmates on remand to regional areas, away from the major courts and their families.
“This maximum-security bed expansion allows us to house inmates more effectively within metropolitan Sydney, so they can maintain face-to-face contact with their families and loved ones,” Mr Roberts said.
It also means a job boost with almost 200 new roles across custodial, corrective services industries and offender services and programs.
