The NSW Ombudsman has condemned a prolonged lockdown at South Coast Correctional Centre, finding the 24/7 confinement of 33 protective custody prisoners to be unlawful and oppressive. The investigation revealed prisoners were held in their cells continuously for periods of up to three months. The Ombudsman’s report criticizes the conditions as a breach of prisoners’ rights and lacking justification. Authorities failed to adequately review the necessity of the lockdown or provide sufficient out-of-cell time for the inmates. The Ombudsman has recommended the NSW Corrections department review its procedures for managing protective custody and ensure compliance with the law. The extended isolation is believed to have negatively impacted the prisoners’ wellbeing. The department has yet to publicly respond to the findings.