The Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC) is the ACT's prison for persons who are sentenced to full-time imprisonment and Remand.
Presently the capacity of the AMC is 344 beds. Accommodation includes cell-blocks, domestic style cottages, a Medical Centre and Crisis Support Unit, a 14 bed Management Unit and a Transitional Release Centre. Male, female, remand and sentenced detainees from low to high security classifications can be accommodated.
The AMC is an open campus style design with accommodation units around a central facilities area (or a Town Square). Included within the AMC are a Health building, an Education and Programs building, an Admissions building and a Visits centre.
Approximately 50% of the accommodation is in 5 bedroom cottages. There are no female cells. The self-contained cottages are for lower security detainees. They are designed to enable detainees to develop and practice living skills.
This model facilitates normalisation. On Mondays to Fridays, detainees rise, shower, dress, have breakfast and leave their accommodation to undertake daily activities. They will return to their units for meals between activity sessions.
The AMC was designed with Environmentally Sustainable Development (ESD) in mind, including initiatives such as: 2.1 million litres of below ground fresh water storage, grey water recycling for toilet flushing and irrigation, solar hot water and high grade building insulation.
The AMC allows ACTCS to introduce a Through-care model of Case Management in which Probation and Parole Officers maintain the primary Case Manager role regardless of whether an offender is in the community or in custody.
