Prison Institutions

In South Australia there are seven adult prisons (officially called correctional institutions) in operation. Together with the Adelaide Remand Centre they have the capacity at present to hold just over 1500 prisoners. The following is a brief description of the capacity of, and the classes of prisoners held in, these institutions:

Adelaide Remand Centre was designed to hold 165 male remand prisoners but it currently has 249 prisoners. This is because two prisoners share a cell that was only meant to hold one prisoner.
Cadell Training Centre can hold up to 140 low security male prisoners and currently holds 132
Mobilong Prison can hold up to 240 medium security male prisoners and currently holds 169
Mount Gambier Gaol can hold up to 110 male medium and low security prisoners and currently holds 101
Adelaide Women's Prison at Northfield holds up to 75 female prisoners and up to 60 low security male prisoners are housed in the pre-release cottages nearby
Port Augusta Gaol holds about 269 male and 13 female prisoners
Port Lincoln Gaol holds about 60 male and 4 female medium and low security prisoners
Yatala Labour Prison holds 395 high and medium security male prisoners (it currently holds 322 prisoners) although may hold more since the system of 'doubling up' has been permitted (as discussed above concerning the Adelaide Remand Centre).

The manager of the prison with the approval of the Chief Executive Officer of the department, makes rules for the prison [Correctional Services Act 1982 s.83]. Breaches of these rules are not offence carrying punishment, see breaches of regulations.

The Minister for Correctional Services must arrange for prisons to be inspected regularly by special justices or other people who are appointed for that purpose [Correctional Services Act 1982 s.20(1)]. An inspector has an unrestricted right of entry to any part of a prison and can ask anyone any questions concerning the prison and the treatment of the prisoners [Correctional Services Act 1982 s.20(4)].

Prisoners are entitled to make complaints to an inspector, which the inspector must investigate. The inspector must send a report on the complaint and may make recommendations to the Minister [Correctional Services Act 1982 s.20(6)].

All judges and magistrates are entitled to inspect a prison at any reasonable time [Correctional Services Act 1982 s.87].