Strict Protocols Breached as Prison Staff Misjudge Sexual Assault Cases
Men charged with alleged prison rapes were permitted to remain in shared cells, contrary to strict protocols, by corrections staff who mistakenly believed their cases were "closed" and that they posed no risk, according to a report by Queensland's ombudsman.
The ombudsman's inspection report of the Brisbane correctional centre highlights multiple concerns about the facility, including severe overcrowding, inadequate health facilities, and complaints that chicken served to detainees and staff was frequently undercooked.
Overcrowding and Cell Sharing Practices
Cells at the Brisbane prison are primarily designed for single occupancy. Inspection standards dictate that prisoners should be housed alone unless they request a cellmate.
However, the ombudsman found the facility was operating at 168% of its design capacity, resulting in most prisoners being "doubled" up in cells.
Handling of Sexual Assault Allegations
The report raised concerns about how Queensland prisons document and respond to sexual assault allegations, particularly regarding decisions on single- or double-occupancy cell placements.
The inspection found instances where prisoners who were vulnerable or had previously experienced or alleged sexual assault by a cellmate were nonetheless sharing cells.
It also identified three incidents where a prisoner was sharing a cell after being alleged to have sexually assaulted their cellmate.
In one specific case, a prisoner was transferred to another correctional centre while under investigation for alleged sexual assault. He was later charged with the alleged rape of a former cellmate, and the charge details were added to his case notes.
Despite this, the following day, staff added a "cell sharing review" case note stating there were "no apparent identified risks or factors that would prevent shared cell accommodation."
Corrections staff told the ombudsman that workers at the other correctional centre had "incorrectly" assumed the matter had been finalised, when an internal investigation was "closed". The investigation in this case had been closed only because the matter was referred to police.
Queensland Corrective Services responded that the second prison conducted an internal review of similar cases and "found further instances where the same error had been made by staff."
Food Safety Concerns
Staff and prisoners at Brisbane correctional centre reported becoming ill after consuming undercooked chicken from the prison kitchen.
Inspectors observed undercooked chicken wings, visibly bloody, being served to staff and visitors.
"In the kitchen, we saw the chicken being stacked on multiple trays and cooked using steam‑assisted commercial ovens. We noted that the chicken in the middle of the trays was lighter in colour than the chicken around the edges, and there does not appear to be a consistent process for checking that food in the centre of the racks is adequately cooked."
Healthcare Facilities and Infrastructure
The report noted that healthcare facilities at the prison were "not fit for purpose" and that there were extensive waitlists for prisoners to receive treatment.
The ombudsman stated it had raised healthcare issues with senior management at the centre, who acknowledged that the medical centre's infrastructure was not conducive to contemporary healthcare provision and that they were limited in what changes could be made at the centre level.
They said they are restricted at a centre level as to what can be changed.
The ombudsman recommended constructing a new medical centre for the prison, but Queensland Corrective Services did not accept this proposal.
In its response, the department said it regularly reviewed "health service infrastructure capacity in all correctional facilities."
