Rochester’s Tracie Ann Badcock, 47, appeared in Echuca Magistrates Court today to discover her fate after pleading guilty to misconduct in public office and bribery of a public official.
In January, the court heard Badcock had received seven payments totalling $2358 over a year to smuggle tobacco products into the minimum security prison for four inmates.
This comes after 2014 changes to the Corrections Act 1986 (VIC) prohibited the smoking, use and possession of tobacco products in prison.
A number of hand-written letters discovered by police in her bedroom also revealed she was seeking an ‘‘intimate’’ relationship with a male prisoner.
Magistrate Jelena Popovic said Badcock’s offences were a “very serious” example of bribery.
“The community places a high amount of trust in its custodial officers and this cannot be breached,” she said.
“Mostly when I sentence, I look at deterrence. But in this case, I don’t believe the need for specific deterrence is high – it’s unlikely Badcock will offend again.
“But we do need to look at general deterrence … there are 1000 prison officers, it’s a small network, and they will take heed of what the sentence is and may moderate their behaviour accordingly.”
Badcock's lawyer Matt Mahady shared of his client’s struggles with mental illness and Ms Popovic said she took these struggles into account – and how they could make her time in custody “more onerous” – when determining the sentence.
“And given Badcock’s alcohol and drug issues, I believe the 12-month corrections order will not only be additional punishment, but will also help with rehabilitation considerations," she said.
More to come.
