Submission: Healthy Prison Review of Alexander Maconochie Centre

ACTCOSS has provided feedback to the ACT Inspector of Custodial Services through the Healthy Prison Revew 2025 process to highlight critical systemic failures within the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC). Drawing on consultations with community organisations, lived experience advocates, and service providers, the submission outlines urgent reforms needed to improve safety, dignity, rehabilitation, and reintegration for detainees.

As in previous years reviews, systemic issues that feed into an unhealthy prison environment remain unresolved. These include:

• Overuse of punitive disciplinary measures that restrict access to communication, visits, community connection and education
• Failure to address the root causes of incarceration, such as substance use disorders, lack of stable housing, and financial instability
• Barriers to external service providers accessing detainees, preventing organisations from delivering critical legal, health, cultural and reintegration support.

Without urgent action, the AMC will continue to fail in its rehabilitative purpose, placing detainees and the broader community at risk. Read the full submission to learn more about the changes needed to create a safe, rehabilitative and human rights compliant prison in the ACT, as it was originally intended.