inside word

This one went awol - it is tardy, tardy, tardy.

This week's top five: interesting facts from my day spent at Beechworth Correctional Centre, a low/minimum security prison in Victoria. It is where Derryn Hinch and a (famous) John who's surname escapes me did time:

1. Beechworth has the two lowest classifications of prisons - 'C1' and 'C2', the distinction being C1 prisoners are locked up at night, C2 aren't (or maybe the other way around).

2. Prisoners can elect to self cater, meaning they are given a budget and are able to select ingredients and cook their own meals.

3. Prisoners can lock their own bedroom doors and there are no CCTV cameras in the bedrooms.

4. The prisoners work at the factory (on site) making kids cubby houses and dog kennels. Some also work in Beechworth, doing something (I forget what). They get paid minimum wage and can spend their money at the prison canteen (but don't get the balance until they leave).

5. Eight prisoners live together (in seperate bedrooms) and share a kitchen and common area. Everyone has their own tv and there is another tv in the common area. Today Tonight would have a field day with this. Aren't there working families that can't afford tvs?


Anyway, it was fascinating, if a little disconcerting walking around being stared out. While the place was pleasant-ish, ours was very much the 'official tour'... When the head guard referred to some residents as 'toe rags' I suspected it wasn't all scones with jam and cream... Maybe crime doesn't pay (any more than minimum wage, anyway)?


Kitty