Preparing inmates for release
The O’Hara Cottages are a pre-release facility on the Risdon Prison site, which have recently been extended to house 32 prisoners (previously housed 16 prisoners). The original cottages were relocated on the Risdon Prison site from the main driveway to their current location and were converted to prison accommodation in 2011, with a further four cottages completed in 2019. Living in the cottages helps inmates nearing release gradually prepare for life back in the community. The cottages are set up like a normal house, with separate bedrooms and a shared kitchen and bathroom. They are designed to help inmates regain essential skills, like how to cook, manage a budget and set daily routines like going to work.