‘Bizarre’ new offering in Victorian prisons

Victorian prisoners are getting teddy bears.

Trauma teddies will be available for purchase for $12.50 as part of a new Corrections Victoria program.

Neil Mitchell says it’s “a weird symbol, a very, very weird symbol”.

Press PLAY below to hear about the “bizarre” offering + Neil Mitchell’s reaction

“You conduct an aggravated burglary, you terrify people in their own house, you beat the hell out of them, you traumatise them, perhaps destroy their peace and their life. You go to jail … you get a teddy bear to cuddle.”

Warren, an ex-prison officer, told Neil Mitchell he fears the teddies may be used to hide drugs, weapons or other contraband.

But coordinator of Justice Action, a prisoners’ rights advocacy group, Brett Collins, said they could be useful for some inmates.

“You have people who don’t touch each other because it could be misunderstood, so the idea of having something, especially for people who have some sort of mental illnesses, is actually a good thing,” he said.