Port Phillip Prison will close in 2025 as part of the Victoria Governmen’t plans to modernise the state’s prison system.
The prison in Truganina will close its doors by Decemeber 31, 2025. Any remaining prisoners to be transferred to other maximum-security facilities.
One of those is the Western Plains Correctional Centre which Premier Jacinta Allan said would start accomodating prisoners from 2025.
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The new centre, which has been sitting empty since 2022, will accomodate for 1,200 prisoners and is situated near Geelong.
It was also announced the 59-year-old Dhurringile Prison in the state’s north would also close.
Minister for Corrections Enver Erdogan announced reforms to the men’s prison system that will “improve safety and rehabilitate men in custody”.
The Western Plains facility has design features including the use of artificial intelligence and an integrated prisoner movement system to make it easier and safer for staff to monitor and move prisoners throughout the facility.
“We are delivering better facilities for people in custody, a safer working environment for our staff and a safer community for Victorians,” Mr Erdogan said.
“This is about delivering a smarter, safer and more modern system. One that focuses on rehabilitation and sets our prison system up for the future,” Corrections Commissioner Larissa Strong said.
The amount of Victorian prisoners peaked in 2019 at 8,101. Data from the Sentencing Advisory Council showed prison population was at 6,440 in the state in 2023.