Is Silverwater Jail Dangerous?

If you find yourself on this page, you are probably either facing jail for the first time, or maybe your friend or family member is about to get locked up, or is already being held at Silverwater jail. It is a common question, as the majority of inmates in Sydney will have to spend some time at Silverwater jail. Silverwater jail is also known as MRRC (Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre), which means it is the place where inmates are held on remand (while awaiting trial), or received (hence the word reception) when they first enter the prison system, to be classo'd and then sent off to the jail they will do the remainder of their sentence at. 

I have spent time at Silverwater jail and other Australian jails, and the good news is, it is not as dangerous as you are probably imagining. I remember the day I went in, I was terrified about being stabbed, beaten, or sexually assaulted. 

By no means am I saying that prison isn't dangerous, people get into fights and stabbed frequently at Silverwater jail, but if you use some common sense, respect others, and don't owe people money or drugs, you will generally be OK. Basically, I'm saying that you will not be attacked for no reason at all. In this article I will teach you how to avoid trouble and stay safe in Silverwater prison. If you still have any concerns or questions after reading this article, I offer consults via phone call. If you would like to book, or find out more information, message me using the Contact Form.

How to stay safe in Silverwater jail

It is not hard to stay safe in Silverwater, or any other prison in Australia. If you aren't rude, don't owe anyone money or drugs, and have some respect for others, you will make it through jail fine. I am not a tough, big, or tall man, but I never found myself in any dangerous situations where I felt like my safety was at severe risk. Follow the tips below to keep yourself out of trouble at Silverwater jail.

Don't try to be a tough guy

You might have a pre-conception from watching movies that you should earn respect when you first get to jail, by finding the toughest prisoner and starting a fight. The reasoning behind it is that even if you lose the fight, the other prisoners will respect you for not being afraid to fight. However, I would highly recommend you don't do this, because if you start a fight with anyone for no reason, you will be in trouble. Each pod or wing at Silverwater jail (and other prisons in Australia) will have a pecking order. When you first arrive at Silverwater jail, or even if you are switched from one wing to another, respect that people there run that wing (or at least think they do). Let them be, don't act tough to them just to try and make a name for yourself. 

Respect the other inmates

Everyone in Silverwater jail is having a tough time. Whether they are on remand, waiting to be classo'd, or serving their sentence - everyone is away from their family and friends, missing their freedom, comfort and privacy, and even the little things like being able to eat what you like, or go for a drive. Have some respect for the other people you live with. If you just got to Silverwater jail and there is a daily routine in the wing you arrive in, let that continue, and you work around it. If there's one guy who is always sitting in a certain seat so he can face the TV as soon as he gets out of lock-in, let him continue with his routine. Don't try and take his seat just to assert your dominance. Also, make some friends as this will help you to get through your time. Swap war stories about your previous life and how you ended up in jail, and have some laughs, as it will make your time a lot easier. Also, it will keep you safer, as you are surrounded by some people who can protect you if anything happens.

Don't get involved in drugs

The best way to stay safe in Silverwater jail is to stay away from drugs, because it causes so many issues. If you have some and someone wants it, you could find yourself in danger. If you are addicted and can't afford to pay back debts for the drugs, again you will find yourself in danger, or worse your family could be in danger.

Besides that, it is better for your physical and mental health if you stay clean. Jail is a great opportunity for you to turn your life around and become rehabilitated. If you are on drugs throughout your sentence, there is a high chance you will be using on the outside once you're free, and then you risk re-offending and ending up back in prison. 

Make friends with other inmates

Having friends in jail will not only help you pass the time, but it will also ensure that you don't look like a weird loner, or someone that can be easily stood over. When you get taken from the holding cells to Silverwater jail, you will probably meet others on the jail truck, so you can talk to them and make friends, as you are all new. Also, once you arrive at Silverwater jail, if you are an Islander, Koori (Aboriginal), Middle Eastern, Asian or Latino, there will almost always be others of the same ethnicity as you, and can instantly have some connections and friends. They will usually greet you when they see you are new to their pod. 

Making friends is a good way to stay safe and make the days go by quicker

Picture: Adam Taylor

Don't mess up the phone line

The phones in jail are one of the main things which can cause arguments. Being able to speak to your wife, children or friends is what keeps many people going, and those short phone calls are extremely precious. Some inmates may only be able to call at certain times, before their wife goes to work, or during a lunch break, so if that is taken away, it can make people very emotional and angry.

Typically, the busiest times for the phones are when the doors open for let-go, and also right before lock-in. If you've never been in jail before, you won't understand how the phone line works, so here is a quick run-down. You can't just watch as someone puts the phone down, and then walk up to it, as there will often be a line of people already waiting. The way to join the phone line is to yell out "who's last?". When someone identifies himself, you tell them "I'm after you". That way, you know that you are next in line after they have had their turn, and if there are any disagreements, he can back you up. When you hear anyone else ask "who's last", now you will have to tell them that you are, and you have to remember who he is, in case there is any disagreement about the order afterwards. It's important to always remember who is directly before you, and who is after you, and don't cut in line.

An inmate is using the phone while another inmate poses for a photo. In reality, you wouldn't stand next to the phone while someone is making a call, even if you are next in line. Respect other inmates' privacy.

Picture: Adam Taylor

Don't insult people's families

If you get into an argument with someone, there are topics that are out of bounds. Make sure you don't say anything about their family, and especially their children. People get very defensive and protective of their family, and quite understandably, so this could lead to a dangerous situation if you provoke someone in the wrong way. 

Important tip - DON'T go into protection (the boneyard)

You might think that going into protective custody would be the best way to stay safe at Silverwater jail, and while it does provide protection, you will be housed with other inmates in protection—many of whom are sex offenders. Unless you fall into that category yourself, it’s not an environment you want to be in. Protection is primarily for convicted sex offenders (especially pedophiles), police officers, and informants (dogs). If you are any of those, then sure, go into protection, but if not, avoid protective custody unless you're genuinely facing serious physical danger.

When you arrive at Silverwater jail, and each new prison that you are moved to, you’ll be asked if you fear for your safety. It’s important to answer NO unless you have a specific reason, like being a sex offender, police officer, or informant, that puts your life at immediate risk. Saying yes will place you in protective custody, often referred to as the "boneyard," surrounded by sex offenders. Once there, you won’t be able to return to the main prison population without facing serious risk, as inmates will assume you were in protection for being a sex offender. Even if you deny it, people will not believe you. In prison, where you come from is common knowledge, and inmates will ask questions. Trying to hide that you were in protection is difficult, and any slip-up could lead to a dangerous situation where you’re constantly living in fear of being exposed.

When can Silverwater jail be dangerous?

I have told you my best advice for staying safe while at Silverwater jail, but it is crucial to know what specific situations could be dangerous, so you can avoid them.

If you owe money/drugs or are a thief

Not paying your debts are a big thing in jail, so make sure you don't owe any inmates money, drugs, or food. Don't borrow what you can't afford, and steer clear of drugs. As mentioned above, drugs are one of the biggest reasons that people get into trouble. They become addicted, can't afford to pay for it, then end up in debt, which can lead to assault. Also, make sure you don't steal food, drugs, tobacco or other property from others, because if they find out, you will get pumped (bashed).

If you are a dog (snitch)

If you snitch on someone in an Australian jail, you’ll be labelled a "dog," one of the worst reputations you can have. In prison, it's green (inmates) versus blue (officers), and you should never tell a screw (officer) anything about another inmate's actions. Whether it’s reporting contraband or something as small as an inmate stealing your food, speaking to the screws puts you in serious danger. You’re expected to handle issues on your own - this is simply prison rules. If someone steals from you, you need to deal with it yourself. The same goes if you’re assaulted by another inmate—no matter how badly you’re hurt, if the guards ask what happened, you say you slipped in the shower. Reporting anything to the guards is a dangerous move that could make your situation far worse.

If you have a lot of money

You could be in trouble if other inmates find out that you or your family are rich. They can extort you, by threatening you with physical violence if you don't call your family and send money to their bank account. They can also force you to buy food and other buy-up items for them.

If you are a sex offender or a cop

If you are charged with sexual assault or you are a police officer, you will be in serious danger. This is a situation where you should ensure your safety by going into protection (the boneyard). You need to tell the officers at Silverwater jail when they process you into the system, that you want to be in protective custody.

If you are in a bikie gang

If you are a bikie, you may be in danger if you are placed into a wing/pod with members of a different bikie gang. When you arrive at Silverwater jail, the officers who are processing you into the system will ask if you are associated with any motorcycle club. This is when you should tell them which one, so you are kept in a pod or wing with others from your gang.

If you are rude or disrespectful

You don't have to be rude to others for no reason. If they are disrespecting you, then sure, stand up for yourself, don't be a pushover, but don't be rude to others just for fun as this can get you in trouble. Respect others and treat them how you want to be treated, and you shouldn't find yourself in trouble.

If you are seen as an easy target

If you’re a loner or perceived as weak, you could be targeted and taken advantage of at Silverwater jail. You may find yourself being stood over for your food, and if you refuse, you might get bashed for it. If someone starts testing your limits or trying to push you around, this is your chance to stand up for yourself. If you don’t, you’ll be seen as an easy target, and the bullying won’t stop—they'll keep coming for your food or force your family to send them money. In these situations, you need to be ready to fight. Even if you lose, it’s important because it shows you’re willing to defend yourself. If you give in just to avoid a fight, your time in prison may get worse, as others will continue to exploit you throughout your sentence.

What to do if you are in danger

While I previously advised never telling the guards anything, if you're in real physical danger, your only option might be to "buzz up." This means pressing the red emergency buttons in the cells to alert the officers that you're at risk. They can then move you to another pod, wing, or even another prison if necessary. However, keep in mind that word can spread that you’ve buzzed up, which could label you as a "dog". Other inmates may also assume you’re a boneyarder, because in their eyes, there’s no other reason why your life would be in such danger that you had to buzz up.

Final thoughts on staying safe in Silverwater jail

Silverwater jail isn't as dangerous as you might imagine. However, this doesn't mean you can be complacent. You DO need to remember that violence is a common part of jail life, and you may see people getting pumped or stabbed. However, I hope I have helped you to know what it takes to stay safe, and how to avoid getting into dangerous situations. I recommend you also read these articles "how to survive prison" and "what life is like in an Australian prison" to find out more insights from my experience in jail.

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to write something below, or send me an email using the Contact Form. If you are still worried about your safety in Silverwater jail, or have a ton of questions, I offer consultations via phone call. I have spoken to many people about to enter Silverwater jail, and they have found my consults really helpful and valuable. If you are in a similar situation, I would recommend booking in a call. The best thing you can do before going into Silverwater jail is being prepared and knowing what to expect.