Conditions in Barwon youth prison

LIFE IN BARWON PRISON'S GREVILLEA UNIT:

BEFORE RENOVATIONS:

* Teenagers had to be handcuffed to walk 30 metres to an outside yard

* Noise levels are so high it's hard to carry on conversations

* Offenders couldn't play basketball because all the balls were stuck in the razor wire and couldn't be retrieved

* Art classes were provided using colouring books

* Cells are three metres by two metres

* Rooms are locked down between 8pm and 8.30am

* Offenders without secure rooms are forced to sleep in isolation cells

CHANGES AFTER RENOVATIONS:

* Renovations throughout December have opened up more space in the unit

* Offenders now have access to the outdoors without the need for handcuffs

* There is more room for art and music classes

THE YOUTH JUSTICE SYSTEM

* Barwon has 43 secure beds, with 17 high risk offenders in the unit

* Parkville has 63 secure beds with 71 high risk offenders

* Malmsbury has 45 secure beds with 47 high risk offenders

Source: Victorian Supreme Court