FAQ · Australia
What types of correctional facilities are there in Australia?
In Australia the directory distinguishes these categories: Prisons and penitentiaries (104), Juvenile detention centers (16), Immigration detention (5), Local and county jails (5), Women's prisons (4), Forensic psychiatric facilities (1). Each type has its own regime, and who may visit and which procedures apply also vary.
Examples by type
Prisons and penitentiaries 104
Prisons and penitentiaries are establishments where people sentenced by a final judgment serve their sentence and, depending on the country, also where people await trial. They are usually organised into units or regimes with different security levels and include areas for healthcare, education, work and rehabilitation activities.
- Albany Regional Prison (Albany)
- Alice Springs Correctional Centre (Hugh)
- Amber Laurel Correctional Centre (Sydney)
- Bomaderry Aboriginal Children's Home (Bomaderry)
Juvenile detention centers 16
Juvenile centers house adolescents and young people who have committed offences. Their approach is mainly educational and rehabilitative, with teams of educators, psychologists and social workers, and with specific visiting and communication rules for minors.
- Banksia Hill Juvenile Dentention Centre (Canning Vale)
- Cobham Juvenile Justice Centre (Sydney)
- Frank Baxter Juvenile Justice Centre (Gosford)
- Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre (Malmsbury)
Immigration detention 5
Immigration detention centers hold foreign nationals administratively, not as a criminal penalty, while their immigration status or removal is being resolved. They are not equivalent to a prison: their regime, time limits and the rights of the people held depend on each country's immigration law.
- Brisbane Immigration Transit Accommodation (Brisbane)
- Christmas Island Immigration Detention Centre (Christmas Island)
- Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation (Melbourne)
- Villawood Immigration Detention Centre (Sydney)
Local and county jails 5
Local jails, county jails and pre-trial detention facilities mainly hold people awaiting trial or serving short sentences, and they usually depend on local or provincial authorities. Because of their function, admissions and releases are more frequent than in a penitentiary and visiting procedures may differ.
- Adelaide Remand Centre (Adelaide)
- Metropolitan Remand Centre (Melbourne)
- Bathurst Periodic Detention Centre (Bathurst)
- Old Police Lockup (Toodyay)
Women's prisons 4
Women's prisons, or women's units, are intended for the female prison population. They usually offer adapted services, such as specific healthcare and, in some systems, spaces for mothers with young children, depending on each country's regulations.
- Bandyup Women's Prison (Perth)
- Boronia Pre-Release Centre for Women (Perth)
- Brisbane Women’s Correctional Centre (Brisbane)
- Northfield Women's Prison (Adelaide)
Forensic psychiatric facilities 1
Forensic psychiatric facilities and units care for people with mental disorders who are under a court order. They combine custody and treatment, with specialised health staff, and usually apply stricter access and visiting procedures.
- Forensic Disability Service (Brisbane)