The objective of prison services is to safely secure prisoners, assist them in their preparation for release, and address offending behaviours. This is achieved through a variety of programs and services delivered by a range of staff at each location.
To view a location map of these Prisons, please select the “Prisons and Community Correctional Services Location Map”.
Corrections Victoria currently has 11 public prisons and 2 private prisons operating across the state, two of which cater for female prisoners. Each prison location is classified as either maximum, medium or minimum security. The 13 prisons are as follows:
Maximum Security
- Barwon Prison
Situated 6 km from the township of Lara, and some 70 km south-west of Melbourne, Barwon is the only maximum security prison located outside the Metropolitan area.
Opened in January 1990, it provides accommodation and services for maximum security mainstream prisoners in unit-style accommodation, and includes a 20-bed facility for high security prisoners and a 60-bed facility for maximum security protection prisoners. Barwon Prison holds a maximum of 261 prisoners.
At Barwon Prison, the majority of prisoners are required to work in the prison industries. Here prisoners are able to work in trades such as powder coating, wooden products and packaging, or service industries such as laundry, catering, gardening or maintenance.
- Melbourne Assessment Prison
Melbourne Assessment Prison (MAP) is located in central Melbourne, and was previously known as the Melbourne Remand Centre. Built in April 1989, it is the reception prison for the majority of male prisoners in Victoria. As such, a range of reception and assessment services are undertaken for newly received prisoners.
There are a number of units within the prison with a range of different roles, for example protection and acute psychiatric assessment units. MAP can hold up to 280 prisoners.
Due partly to security issues and the lack of available space, prisoner work opportunities within the MAP are generally limited to the service industries (for example cleaning and kitchen duties).
- Metropolitan Remand Centre
Metropolitan Remand Centre (MRC) is located in Ravenhall, approximately 20 kilometres west of the Melbourne CBD. Opened in May 2006, this is the statewide remand facility providing accommodation and services for up to 600 prisoners who have been remanded in custody.
The operating philosophy of MRC is designed to achieve a balance between the need for a safe and secure environment with one that recognises the needs of unconvicted prisoners. As such, the prison has been designed to allow for the greatest degree of ‘normalisation' for remand prisoners, while ensuring high levels of security and safety for the community.
Whilst remand prisoners are not required to work in industries, there are employment opportunities for those who choose to do so. These include building wooden products, metal fabrication, horticulture, catering and laundry.
- Port Phillip Prison
Port Phillip Prison at Laverton North, 20 kilometres west of the CBD. It is a privately operated prison run by GSL Custodial Services. This maximum security prison offers accommodation for almost 750 mainstream and protection prisoners. It has 20 accommodation units with individual cells and common kitchen/tea rooms/day rooms and recreation areas.
Port Phillip Prison operates several industries for prisoners to work in. These include ground and building maintenance, carpentry/joinery products, assembly and packaging, laundry, kitchen/bakery.
Medium Security
- Ararat Prison
Ararat Prison, located at Ararat provides accommodation for prisoners with protection and special needs requirements, including a proportion of sex offenders. Opened in 1967, Ararat Prison consists mostly of single, two and three-bed accommodation for up to 340 prisoners, including a unit for aged and medically incapacitated prisoners.
All prisoners at Ararat are expected to be employed. Most prisoners are allocated work in the Industries complex in areas such as wooden products, screen printing, metal fabrication, number plates, laundry and maintenance.
- Loddon Prison
Loddon Prison is located in Castlemaine, and is a mainstream prison which emphasises drug-free lifestyles and provides programs to address offending behaviours. In addition, Loddon prison offers support for intellectually impaired prisoners undergoing release preparation.
Opened in 1990, Loddon has cottage style accommodation which is provided in home-style self-contained units, and there is also medium security single cell accommodation in larger units for up to 320 prisoners.
All newly-received prisoners are required to commence work in the industries complex where the industries offered include metal fabrication, upholstery, powder coating and assembly. There are also service industries such as laundry and maintenance, gardening/horticulture, and catering.
- Marngoneet Correctional Centre
Marngoneet Correctional Centre is located at Lara, approximately 70 kilometres west of the Melbourne CBD. Opened in March 2006, this facility was specifically designed to bring together major intensive treatment programs for drug and alcohol issues, sexual and violent offences, which marks an Australian first. Marngoneet can hold up to 300 prisoners who are undertaking these specific programs.
The operating philosophy of Marngoneet is focussed on addressing a wide range of prisoners' offending behaviour and reducing the likelihood of prisoners returning to custody after release.
The name “Marngoneet” is taken from the local Wathaurong community language and means “to make new”. The name reflects the prison's focus on rehabilitation and offers a respectful gesture to the Wathaurong people. It is supported by the Wathaurong Aboriginal Cooperative.
All prisoners are required to work and the workday is structured to provide a balance between work and program requirements. The type of work prisoners undertake will contribute to building job skills to assist with employment opportunities on release. The industries at Marngoneet include metalwork, woodwork, horticulture, recycling and kitchen work.
- Fulham Prison
Fulham Prison is located at West Sale, 220 kilometres east of Melbourne, and is a privately operated prison run by GEO Group Australia. It provides a mix of medium and minimum security for mainstream prisoners, and also has a drug and alcohol treatment unit, a protection unit and a young offender unit.
Opened in 1997, accommodation consists of a mix of medium security cell blocks and lodges, as well as minimum security cottages for up to 710 prisoners.
Fulham Correctional Centre operates industries, which include woodwork, building garden furniture, and rural industries such as market gardening and calf rearing.
Minimum Security (Prison Farms)
- Beechworth Correctional Centre
Following the closure of the 144 year old Beechworth Prison, this new Correctional Centre was commissioned in December 2004. Located just outside of Beechworth, approximately 270 kilometres north east of Melbourne, this facility has a focus on preparing prisoners for release back into the community.
It is designed to complement the rural surroundings and creates an environment that reflects the general community, including structure, choice and personal responsibility.
Accommodation is unit-style with separate rooms and communal style living, some with self-catering. It can accommodate up to 120 prisoners, predominantly serving short term sentences.
A wide range of industries are available at Beechworth Correctional Centre including woodwork, farming, gardening, a commercial kitchen, and involvement in the Landmate Program.
- Dhurringile Prison
Dhurringile Prison is located near Murchison, 160 kilometres north of Melbourne, was originally a homestead for a large farm. It has previously been used to house prisoners of war and orphans.
This minimum security prison has an area of around 100 hectares and focuses on pre-release for prisoners. It consists of a number of small units and some self-contained and self-catering units, and can house almost 110 prisoners.
Prisoners are engaged in both on-site employment and community work via assistance programs. Dhurringile has a wide range of industries including:
- Modern 300 head Commercial and Stud Cow Dairy Farm
- 10 Acres of Orchard – various fruits
- Factory manufacturing of wooden products
- Landcare Working Group
- Metal fabrication and welding
- Catering
- Langi Kal Kal
Langi Kal Kal prison is on the Western Highway at Trawalla, 140 kilometres west of Melbourne. It was originally a farming property, but has also served as a youth training centre. It provides accommodation for minimum security prisoners who require low to medium protection. It is a large working farm with two accommodation units which are mostly shared.
Langi Kal Kal also provides a minimum security pathway for protection prisoners from Ararat Prison. It holds up to 110 prisoners.
All prisoners are expected to work at Langi Kal Kal. The industries include agriculture/horticulture, woodwork, Landmate program, cleaning services, kitchen, and maintenance.
Women's Prison Locations
- Dame Phyllis Frost Centre
The Dame Phyllis Frost Centre (DPFC) accommodates female prisoners of all security ratings, and provides reception and specialist accommodation for remand and sentenced women in Victoria. Originally privately designed, financed, built and managed, it is now part of Victoria's public prison system and the main prison for women in the State.
It is located in Deer Park, 26 kilometres west of the Melbourne CBD, and accommodation consists of single cells or cottage style, shared units. There are also two special cell blocks designed for protection prisoners and for prisoners with behavioural problems. It holds up to 260 prisoners.
DPFC provides prisoners with the opportunity to work in industries such as garment assembly, screen printing, general maintenance, horticulture, and service industries like laundry, kitchen or gardening.
- Tarrengower Prison
This prison farm is a minimum security prison with an emphasis on release preparation and integration of prisoners back into the community. Tarrengower is located in Maldon, 136 kms north of Melbourne, and holds up to 54 prisoners.
It consists of self-contained units with single accommodation and shared kitchen and living areas. This facility also provides a safe and healthy environment where children can be accommodated with their mothers ensuring the family unit is maintained and developed.
In addition to being a working farm, with beef cattle as the main output, industries at Tarrengower include a small market garden, a range of community project work, and horticulture (including native plan propagation).