NSW Prisons Overwhelmed by Domestic Violence Cases

0:00New South Wales prisons now hold 13,133 inmates, with nearly half 6,081 on remand, awaiting trial. That's up 37% over five years, driven largely by domestic violence cases where bail is often denied. Sentence prisoners have dropped to 7,052, the lowest in years. Tuffer bail laws reversed after the April 2024 murder of Molly Tykhurst by her ex-partner, who was out on bail, mean serious domestic. Violence suspects must prove why they shouldn't be locked up. At silverwater correctional complex near Sydney Olympic Park, 471 of its 1,370 inmates face such. Charges with 46 on remand. Prison staff and officials report a shift inside, with more agitated inmates in isolation and holding cells buzzing before court hearings. Governor Patrick about spins time talking directly to them, a change from past decades when domestic violence carried more stigma

1:00among prisoners. Experts note domestic violence reports haven't spiked, but police prioritize stalking and intimidation, pushing more cases to court. Meanwhile, remand stays drag on. Nearly 1,000 have been inside over a year, straining resources as unsentence inmates skip rehab programs. Chief Justice Andrew Bell calls for massive court funding to handle the load, warning of backlogs without more judges and facilities. Victim services face two month weights, pleading for $177 million more to keep up as every locked up offender means one, less through it outside. That's the story for today. Sydney News Today, Driven by AI