Today in a Parliamentary hearing into COVID-19, the Andrews Labor Government has confirmed violent criminals are set to receive 14 days off their sentences for following the same COVID-19 measures being asked of the community.
The Corrections Commissioner has confirmed incoming prisoners are being placed in a 14 day isolation period following being placed into Corrections Victoria custody.
Under Victoria’s current Corrections Regulations, a prisoner who undergoes mandatory 14-day isolation or serves any other period of lockdown due to COVID-19 measures can apply for up to 8 weeks off their sentence, via “Emergency Management Days” – that is, days taken off an inmate’s sentence due to exceptional circumstances.
Furthermore, Victoria’s Corrections Commissioner confirmed the reduction would be automatically applied to inmates sentences during COVID-19, at a rate of one day off for every one day served in lockdown, and that at least 400 inmates would be eligible for sentence reductions to date.
The safety of the community must remain a priority during this period and some of Victoria’s worst offenders shouldn’t be awarded days off their sentence for following the same measures required of the rest of the community.
Comments attributable to Shadow Minister for Corrections, David Southwick:
“It’s disgraceful that individuals who have committed heinous crimes will be gifted 14 days off their jail terms just for following the same rules as everyone else.
“COVID-19 isn’t a get-out-of-jail-free card and Daniel Andrews’ failure to rule out freebee days to inmates is placing the safety of the community at risk.”
