Yatala Prison Today
The prison holds high, medium and low security prisoners, and is South Australia's main induction and reception prison for male prisoners. It still retains industry facilities that are the largest in the South Australian prison system, and is run by the South Australian government's Department for Correctional Services. Some of the original buildings and parts of old equipment can still be seen from a creek level walking trail, between the prison and new suburb of Walkley Heights. These include guard towers, quarries, a blacksmith's shop and a gunpowder magazine
The prison is divided into four units:
- B-Division – high and medium security, and prisoners requiring protection.
- E-Division – all security classifications for assessment, prisoner induction.
- F-Division – working division close to the prisons industries facilities.
- G-Division – highest security section of the prison.
Yatala is reported as having 500 prisoners in a facility designed for 341. The prison was planned to be closed when a new prison at Mobilong was completed, though some buildings will be retained for their historic values. It was expected that the closure will happen by 2011, and the land developed for residential housing but this has been canceled. No current funding has been put in place for the new prison, therefore the land redevelopment will not occur as previously noted.
The new roster is getting implemented on 2 July 2011.
Read more about this topic: Yatala Labour Prison
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