Investigation into actions taken against bystander inmates following an incident at Clarence Correctional Centre

This special report concerns an investigation into actions taken by the operator of Clarence Correctional Centre (Serco) against inmates who witnessed an assault on an officer by an inmate, at the centre in September 2023.

Following complaints made by some of those inmates, the NSW Ombudsman conducted an investigation and found that procedural requirements designed to ensure a fair process had not been followed when inmates were charged with correctional centre offences, and that inmates were found guilty despite relevant evidence (including CCTV footage) not supporting such findings. The Ombudsman also found that 'behaviour management contracts' were imposed on some inmates inappropriately, and the conditions of these contracts were unreasonable and oppressive.

The NSW Ombudsman has made recommendations in response to those findings.