The Sydney Morning Herald
· collected 2026-09-28 · by Anthony Segaert
The Dawn de Loas Correctional Centre in Sydney’s Silverwater jail, which closed in 2022 due to a drop in prisoner numbers, is set to reopen next year. This decision comes as a result of new domestic violence bail laws passed by the NSW Labor government in 2024, causing an increase in the prison population; currently, 6398 people are on remand, making up 46% of the adult prison population. The facility’s reopening is part of broader measures to address public safety concerns related to domestic violence, including the addition of 360 beds at Parklea Correctional Centre and a $47.1 million investment for the recommissioning of Dawn de Loas, which will also require hiring 150 new corrections officers.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-28,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The Dawn de Loas Correctional Centre within Sydney’s Silverwater jail was shut down in 2022 due to a decline in prisoner numbers but is set to reopen next year. This decision comes after the NSW Labor government tightened domestic violence bail laws in 2024, requiring those accused of serious domestic violence offences to prove they should be granted bail before their court hearing, leading to a significant increase in remand prisoners. As of this month, there are 6398 people on remand, accounting for 46% of the adult prison population. The government is investing $47.1 million to recommission the 515-bed facility and add over 360 additional beds at Parklea correctional centre, increasing total prison capacity by nearly 1,000 beds. Premier Chris Minns argues that expanding the prison system is necessary for public safety, while the Public Service Association (PSA) of NSW warns against relying solely on arrest to address domestic violence issues.
Written for “Prison Reopening For DV Offenders” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
Wing 1 of the Dawn de Loas Correctional Centre exists much as it did the day it shut down.
asserted
it → exist → Centre
Sunlight creeping between caged windows reveals mattresses half-strewn over cracking concrete beds, a laundry turned into a room for prisoners to attend court hearings remotely, and a beaten white bookcase storing half-open Bibles and a shoddily packed chess game.
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prisoners → creep → Bibles
As prisoner numbers dwindled, the 515-bed facility within the broader Silverwater jail in Sydney’s west was shut down in 2022.
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facility → dwindle → 2022
But it will be reopened next year, after a surge in the prison population triggered by reforms to domestic violence bail laws the NSW Labor government passed in 2024.
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government → reopen → 2024
The law now requires those accused of serious domestic violence offences to “show cause” for bail release before their court hearing, leading to a significant increase in the number of people refused bail and therefore placed in the prison system.
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law → require → system
The government said that as of this month, 6398 people were on remand, accounting for 46 per cent of the adult prison population.
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people → say → population
Premier Chris Minns said on Monday morning the government’s priority was to ensure the community was kept safe.
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community → say → morning
“We don’t celebrate the fact that the prison population has increased, but we regard it as necessary to keep the population safe, particularly around domestic violence or violent criminal enterprises in our community,” he said.
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he → celebrate → community
“It can’t be the case that because the prisons are overcrowded, the courts … are forced to release often-violent people back into the community because they’ve got nowhere to go.
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they → force → nowhere
“If we believe, and the criminal justice system believes, that someone is a danger to the community, or their intimate partner, or a member of their family, there must be a prison bed available to him or her to keep the public safe.”
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someone → believe → public
It follows a spate of alleged domestic violence incidents across the state, including one weekend in September where four domestic violence deaths occurred in 48 hours.
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deaths → follow → hours
The government also announced an additional 360 beds will be fast-tracked at Parklea Correctional Centre in Sydney’s north-west, which will be returned to public hands on Thursday after being privately run since 2009.
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which → announce → 2009
It has previously also increased spending on frontline domestic violence and family services.
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It → increase → services
Recommissioning the centre will cost $47.1 million and require an additional 150 corrections officers.
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Recommissioning → recommissione → officers
Despite high job vacancies in the industry, NSW Corrective Services Commissioner Gary McCahon said a recent pay increase for Corrections staff would attract employees drawn to stable careers.
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increase → say → careers
The Public Service Association, which represents corrections staff, said the state should focus on funding preventative work rather than what happens after an offence occurs.
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offence → represent → work
“We can’t just arrest our way out of domestic violence,” union president Stewart Little said.
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Little → arrest → violence
“Prison can contain someone who poses a serious risk.
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who → contain → risk
It cannot, by itself, protect a person before violence occurs or stop an offender returning to violent behaviour after release.”
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offender → protect → stories
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