The death of an 18-year-old mother inside a maximum-security women's prison has raised concerns about the use of solitary confinement, known as lockdowns, in Victoria's correctional facilities. Tarsha Golightly was found dead outside her cell at the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre (DPFC) in west Melbourne on July 27. Authorities have confirmed her death is not being treated as suspicious and will be subject to coronial and workplace investigations.
According to reports, prisoners had been kept on lockdown for several days prior to Ms. Golightly's death. Lockdowns confine inmates to their cells for 23 to 24 hours a day and can be initiated due to incidents, staff shortages, or self-harm attempts.
Ms. Golightly's family described her loss as profound, stating, "Our beautiful Tarsha was only 18 years old. She had an entire lifetime ahead of her, and her passing has left a space in our family that can never be filled." They added, "Please check in on the people you love. Sometimes the biggest battles are the ones we cannot see."
Former inmates at DPFC have pointed to the rolling lockdowns as a contributing factor to deteriorating mental health among prisoners. Kelly Flanagan, who was incarcerated at the facility for 30 days, reported seven suicide attempts during her stay. "I am not surprised this has happened again. I said previously that lockdowns, lack of care (and) support would create death and it has," Flanagan stated, adding, "Shame on you. A child has lost her mother."
Flanagan kept a log of lockdowns at the facility, which indicated that in February, there were lockdowns on 13 out of 28 days. A broader spreadsheet, compiled with input from other inmates, lawyers, and prison sources covering January 2024 to May 2025, claimed the DPFC's Gordon Unit experienced 14 lockdown days between March and May of the current year due to staffing issues. "Just before I got out, the women at DPFC including me were being locked down as much as 60 percent of the time," Flanagan said.
Another former inmate, Ashleigh Chapman, echoed these concerns, asserting that the lockdowns significantly impacted prisoners' mental well-being. "Why do we have another death in custody? Because nothing has changed, conditions are getting worse. Mental health is strife, a young woman should not lose her life," Chapman said.
Corrections Victoria acknowledged the impact of Ms. Golightly's death and those of other inmates on loved ones, victims of crime, and correctional staff. The agency stated, "All deaths in custody are reported to the Coroners Court of Victoria, which formally determines the cause of death."