Calls for next Victorian government to invest in prisons

Victoria's prisons currently operate at 92% capacity with 4,624 inmates serving sentences and another 3,268 on remand. Both major parties have not responded to the ABC's inquiry about whether they have planned for additional prison beds and corrections officers in their proposed crime policies. Premier Ben Carroll aims to introduce stricter laws, while Jess Wilson's Coalition promises even tougher justice policies, leading to concerns about potential overcapacity.

A new maximum-security prison near Lara cost $1.19 billion to build and has a capacity of 1,094. The state may face the need to expand or construct new jails, which could cost over $1 billion, alongside the added expenses of hiring and training new corrections officers and increasing court capacity. Both parties are also increasing police recruitment, with Jess Wilson proposing an additional 1,500 police officers.

Shadow Police and Corrections Minister Brad Battin stated that a Liberal and Nationals government would ensure prison cells and beds are ready for those who break the law. However, Labor highlighted that it had invested in more than 1,200 additional prison beds and allocated $727 million for prison-related expenses in the 2025-26 state budget.

Former Sentencing Advisory Council chair Arie Freiberg warned that more police and stricter rules would strain the prison system, stressing the high costs associated with tougher law and order policies, which would burden other parts of the criminal justice system. Dr. Freiberg advocated for addressing criminal behavior through social services rather than prisons, emphasizing the need for a more cost-effective approach.

Swinburne University law professor Mirko Bagaric pointed to Victoria's prison population decline during the Labor government's tenure and linked the rise in crime to lenient sentencing. He argued that investing in prisons, particularly for violent offenders and sexual offenders, could be a viable solution. Labor plans to introduce 'Aidan's Law' in memory of a victim, requiring courts to consider if an offender attacked a good Samaritan, a move designed to punish attackers more severely.