Alas, last week the computer mainframes that control security infrastructure at Canberra's premier and only ClubMed correctional resort crashed, causing surveillance cameras, door locks, retina scanning devices and ankle and neck tags to fail. Epic electrological failure. Prison guards were forced to do perimeter checks and manually lock and unlock doors the old fashion way, like getting up off their arses to check perimeters and lock and unlock doors.
Pretty flowers and white picket fences - domestic-style bliss.
The whole idea that prisons are controlled by computers makes me a little nervous. Is it just me, or did anyone else think that prisoners were locked in cells behind big, dirty, iron doors with prison slats? When did this type of dainty prison infrastructure go out of favour? For AMC, which prides itself on being a 'human rights compliant prison', it's because they don't want prisoner's feelings getting hurt being surrounded by iron bars all the time which makes them feel like... criminals.
I don't know. I kinda feel that people in jail are supposed to feel like they've monumentally screwed up, so it makes sense that they should suffer some sort of indignity, like occasionally being tossed delicately into a stinking jail cell without a smart TV. That's how being a criminal works I'm pretty sure. What better disincentive to not break the law than having no Foxtel? I can't think of any.
Let's see what the AMC has in the way of deterrents. Well about half of the accommodation is in five bedroom domestic-style cottages designed around a central Town Square. So it 's basically like living in the Cotswolds with staff dressed like Mr Plod. These cottages are apparently designed to facilitate normalisation; to enable prisoners to develop and practice living skills.
Well, given the nature of their circumstance, it seems the last time these cons practiced living skills they failed miserably; and I do believe their idea of normal may greatly conflict with mine. But normalisation is the key, so it's a good thing they have a friggin' TOWN SQUARE, because one never knows when one may feel inclined to start a civic riot, pee on a commemorative monument or pilfer from the local delicatessen. Or put another way, put their normal living skills into practice.
The designers also thoughtfully installed Environmentally Sustainable Development initiatives, due to criminals renowned concern over water storage, grey water recycling and solar hot water systems. Going to prison used to suck; these days it's just a sabbatical in a holiday resort.
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