‘System is failing’ as another death in jail reported

A 42-year-old Aboriginal man died in Bathurst jail on Tuesday afternoon, sparking calls for more work to be done to reduce the number of First Nations people in jail.

NSW Police were called to the correctional centre at about 2.30pm on Tuesday, after prison staff found the man unresponsive in his cell.

Blake Cansdale, national director of Change the Record, told NITV the systems was failing Indigenous people.

“Prisons do not deliver justice,” he said.

“They prioritise punishment over rehabilitation, profit over people, and crisis over care.”

Mr Carsdale said there focus needed to be on prevention and incarceration.

“How many more deaths will it take before they finally listen?” Mr Cansdale said.

The news comes after the NSW Inspector of Custodial Services called for the permanent closure of the medium security wings of Bathurst Correctional Centre last month.