Even in minimum security, prisons aren’t exactly supposed to work on the honour system. But if people can not only manage to break out of one, but also break back in, you’re not really operating a regimented jail so much as a free range chook pen.
Four inmates being held in minimum security “pre-release” accomodation at a corrections facility in Darwin not only managed to slip past guards and security to hop the fence, but they were only caught and apprehended after they tried to get back in following their little gallivant.
The inmates were observed climbing a fence (and it’s not a very big one at that) after the 7:00pm roll call on Saturday night, at the Holtze facility near the Northern Territory capital.
The group was later apprehended at around 1:00am Sunday morning attempting to get back in to the facility.
Officials at the prison stated that it was clear the prisoners had no intention to escape “long term” and that the decision to not initially pursue them was within staff protocols.
“It was dark and the prisoners can hop into the bush pretty quick, there are only two staff down here and to leave the immediate area and chase prisoners is not in our protocols, so they did the right thing.”
“It’s pretty evident the prisoners didn’t intend to escape long-term. They obviously went into the bushes and were mischievous with the intention to come back.”“Normally when four prisoners will go it’s not orchestrated, it was probably opportunistic.”
The facility is part of an “open security” system that entrusts inmates with their own keys to their cell, and allows them to leave the facility during daylight working hours in order to work or undertake volunteer activities.
Prisoners need to meet strict criteria in order to qualify for the program.
The four inmates in question have been remanded to high security, regular prison facilities, and could face charges and extra jail time for the escape.
Credit where it’s due: that’s a fair bloody effort, fellas. But at the end of the day the juice probably ain’t worth the squeeze.
Source: ABC News.
