Changes to inmate intake and remand operations across metropolitan Sydney will improve the movement of prisoners through the correctional system, support police operations and help manage growing demand across correctional centres.
The Minns Labor Government is strengthening the state's correctional system, announcing a major overhaul of remand reception and prisoner intake operations in metropolitan Sydney to better manage the state's prison population.
The changes will improve the movement and management of inmates, helping Corrective Services NSW (CSNSW) support the Government's commitment to holding serious offenders accountable while maintaining a safe, secure and efficient correctional system.
As more serious offenders are being held on remand, the current intake system is no longer fit for purpose. The state's main reception centre, the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre (MRRC) at Silverwater, stops accepting new inmates each afternoon, meaning police can be left holding bail refused prisoners until space becomes available.
From 1 October 2026, MRRC will become the central 24-hour, seven-day-a-week metropolitan intake hub allowing police to transfer bail refused prisoners directly into the correctional system at any time, improving the movement of inmates, reducing pressure on police cells and making better use of prison capacity across metropolitan Sydney.
The changes come as the NSW prison population continues to grow, with more than 1,100 additional inmates entering custody since December 2025 and an increase in the number of people being held on remand.
This growth reflects stronger action across the justice system, with police, courts and Corrective Services NSW continuing to hold more serious offenders to account, particularly domestic and family violence offenders, following the Minns Labor Government's tougher laws.
With the transition of MRRC to 24/7 operations, the much smaller Amber Laurel Correctional Centre, which currently operates as a 24-hour intake and transit facility for people on remand, will cease operations.
Additionally, Silverwater Women's Correctional Centre will transition to a 30-bed facility, as previously announced on 20 March 2026, and Mary Wade Correctional Centre will transition back to housing female prisoners with a focus on external leave and work release for women.
Parklea Correctional Centre will operate as a predominantly remand-focused facility once it transitions from private to public management on 1 October 2026.
Together, these operational changes will deliver a more coordinated and efficient remand network, improving the management of inmate admissions and movements while ensuring correctional capacity is available where and when it is needed most.
Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said:
"The first responsibility of any government is keeping the community safe, and that means ensuring serious and violent offenders are held accountable and kept off our streets.
"Police are arresting more serious offenders, the courts are remanding more people into custody and we're making sure Corrective Services has the capacity to respond. That's what these reforms are about."
Minister for Corrections Anoulack Chanthivong said:
"Community safety comes first, and these reforms will ensure our correctional system has the capacity and flexibility it needs to meet growing demand.
"More offenders are being held on remand and more serious criminals are being taken off our streets, including perpetrators of domestic and family violence.
"That's a positive outcome for community safety, and these changes will support the system by improving efficiency across our correctional centres and ensuring resources are being used where they will have the greatest impact.
"This is about planning for the future, so we can continue holding serious offenders accountable and keeping communities safe."
CSNSW Commissioner Gary McCahon PSM said:
"This plan represents a bold and crucial step toward building a correctional system that recognises and responds to the unique needs and experiences of people entering custody.
"This new model has been designed in consultation with government agencies, non-government partners and other important voices.
"By addressing the systemic issues we are facing, we envision a future where these operational transformations support staff as they work help keep our community safe.
"Due to the significance of the changes at MRRC, we will focus on workforce readiness, safety and operational excellence to ensure the centre is prepared to meet current and future correctional needs."
