The NSW prison watchdog has found issues with conditions and workforce resources in parts of Cooma’s jail. Photo: Gail Eastaway.
A damning report into Cooma’s jail has called for closures, citing “dilapidated living conditions and maintenance issues” in cells and “gaps and limitations” in rehabilitative opportunities.
The Cooma Custodial Centre (Cooma CC) is a minimum and medium security facility that can accommodate up to 225 male inmates across two areas (Area 1 and Area 2).
In a recent report, Inspector of Custodial Services Fiona Rafter made 21 recommendations for the facility, following an inspection in 2025.
She called for Corrective Services NSW to stop using the 1870s wing of the jail for inmate housing, describing it as “close to full”.
More than half of those cells are housing two inmates without an in-cell shower, despite not being built to the contemporary size requirements for two people.
She also found the cells had ligature points, damage, signs of vermin and received limited natural light.
“The physical environment in the 1873 wing is not conducive to inmate wellbeing and presents issues for the security and safety of inmates and staff at Cooma CC,” the report states.
“Use of aged infrastructure falls short of expected standards in a modern correctional system.”
Accommodation across Area 2 was described as “good”, though some rooms were noted as having ventilation issues.
In her report, Ms Rafter acknowledged ongoing workforce shortages at the jail, which meant that inmate routines were being affected and $725,093 was spent on overtime in 2023/24.
“Some staff were experiencing fatigue due to working overtime and were unable to travel to Sydney for professional development or training,” she wrote.
The report states that Area 1 inmates are spending long periods in their cells (compared to inmates in Area 2), affecting their participation in programs and education.
She recommended this be improved and noted this issue had been raised in a 2020 inspection.
“During our recent inspection, inmates in Area 1 (many with a minimum security rating) had an average of 6.8 hours out of cell each day, lower than the state average for maximum security custodial facilities,” Ms Rafter wrote.
Partial lock-ins were also found to be driven by workforce “deficiencies”.
Further, Ms Rafter wrote that these staff shortages meant fewer than 60 per cent of inmates had an approved case plan and that inmates were having problems undertaking traineeships and vocational training programs.
She urged Corrective Services NSW to take steps so that all case plans could be completed.
A further recommendation is that “refresher training” be offered to staff to make sure methadone is being administered correctly, the report finding staff were not checking that an inmate had actually ingested their methadone dose.
Ms Rafter recommended further culturally specific supports for First Nations inmates at the jail, saying this could “significantly support” their rehabilitative prospects.
“At the time of the inspection, Aboriginal people in custody in Area 2 had access to a Yarning Circle but Area 1 which houses the majority of Cooma CC inmates did not have a Yarning Circle,” she wrote in her report.
“Cultural programs and support for Aboriginal inmates had not been sufficiently prioritised at Cooma CC, particularly given our 2020 recommendation that Cooma CC establish a visiting elders program to provide cultural and spiritual support to people in custody,” she wrote.
In her report, Ms Rafter’s recommendations featured calls for Corrective Services NSW to stop strip searches before contact visits and ensure inmates knew how to lodge complaints (including to external bodies).
Her other recommendations included that Cooma CC staff stopped allowing inmates to take legal calls in front of others (described as a “breach of privacy”) and that the number of inmates enrolled in education opportunities and work release be increased.
She also called for the repair or replacement of damaged mattresses and for staff to stop issuing used socks or underwear.
In a statement to Region, Corrective Services NSW did not answer specific questions about the report’s recommendations (including about any progress being made regarding their implementation).
“Community safety remains Corrective Services NSW’s (CSNSW) top priority,” a spokesperson said.
“CSNSW welcomes the Inspector of Custodial Services’ report regarding Cooma Correctional Centre and will issue a formal response to its recommendations in due course.
“CSNSW conducts regular safety audits and completes maintenance and infrastructure work at the prison.”
NIMBYs and retired Canberra halfwits are just unable to understand progress. It’s sad. View