Corrective Services NSW says there was not a breakdown in the management plan for controlling an 'Outkast' gang of inmates who viciously beat up a fellow prisoner at the Wellington Correctional Centre.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The man is in a critical but stable condition in a Sydney hospital.
Five members of the gang were expected to be charged with assault while two others involved in a fire lit in a cell, were also facing charges of property damage.
One of these men is understood to be a member of the 'gang'.
The 'Outkast gang' was formed in January, probably at Goulburn jail. Seven members were moved to Wellington Correctional Centre where it was understood they expanded their membership.
The gang has 26 members across NSW and inmates have been spread around the state and placed on strict conditions to stop their influence.
NSW Corrective Services says the men were being managed and separated, held in their cells for 22 hours a day at Wellington Correctional Centre in order to manage their unwillingness to be compliant with working orders and also follow the structure of the day.
But since the management plan began some of the alleged gang members have de registered themselves from the group which means they see more hours of daylight and are now part of the correctional centre's structure, according to a NSW Corrective Services spokesperson.
Low risk inmates work on many projects at the correctional centre to help with their rehabilitation. Some are allowed outside to work on community projects in Wellington.
According to prison guard Troy Bryant, the 'Outkast gang' shows disrespect to the fellow inmates and correctional centre officers. They now have been "segregated and some shipped away".
"They are a new group willing to do whatever they have to do to make a name for themselves," he said.
Mr Bryant said the 'Outkast gang' was in a wing for non-compliant prisoners.
The eight-year-long senior officer admitted the job of a correctional centre officer was far from easy.
"But it's a job we choose to do and we deal with what comes to us," he said.
Mr Bryant said officers had been trained to deal with these situations and that's exactly what they did.
Mr Bryant also spoke about the fire which was lit in a cell on Thursday to Fairfax Media radio broadcaster Ray Hadley.
He said officers saw smoke rising from a jail cell at the Wellington Correctional Centre and officers forced the two inmates involved in the fire out of their cells.
They were forced to hose them down and also used a 'gas gun' to subdue one of the occupants who was being aggressive.
The gas gun disoriented the inmate and forced him out of the cell Mr Bryant said. The other occupant came out of his cell without a problem he said.
The men started the fire by using an object to break a power point, this caught on fire and the alarm was raised.
Minister for Corrections David Elliott said a video which showed the courage and bravery by the correctional officers showcases their bravery.
"Correctional officers are our last line of defence," Mr Elliott said.
"I telephoned the officers to thank them for their service and said the community was grateful for their work. I will be nominating all officers involved for bravery awards."
