As the media continues to question how Carl Williams could’ve been killed in a maximum security prison the day the Herald Sun outed him as a possible police informer, Victorian Premier John Brumby told Melbourne ABC radio this morning that he didn’t think the death warranted an independent body against corruption or a Royal Commission.

The world of criminals and ex-criminals lives alongside us every day but we barely notice.Working with men who were on early release more than 15 years ago, I soon learned that they have one currency above all else — loyalty to each other. They never give another crim up — never — even if they were bashed, robbed or worse. They sort it.

This is not just about personal advantage, being scared, or sharing the proceeds of crime. It’s also that this loyalty gives them security and identity in a world in which for the rest of their lives they can be exposed at any time — regardless of how long ago they did the crime and the time.

Theirs is a capitalist system within a capitalist system.Without education, but with a strong sense of pride, these men and their families are not going to go hungry. Yet they don’t “roll old ladies” for their handbags and have a special hatred for “druggies” who do — as they perceive it. (Not that they are necessarily drug free.)

Unsurprisingly, this creates a kinship and loyalty is at its heart. Us “straights”, as I was called, were accepted when we demonstrated a similar loyalty through trying to get them work, being prepared to wake up at 3am and talk them out of “going hard” to “make a stash for the missus” because they convinced themselves they were “back in” for a long while.

A friend had his drum kit stolen from a car — I spoke of it as you do — it was on his veranda the next morning.

Governments around the world have evolved criminal justice systems.They give priority to cutting off the “supply” by providing decent unemployment benefits that are practical to maintain for those who are not particularly literate, don’t demean people, etc.When people who get out are neglected, jail becomes a safe house.

Australia’s criminal justice system, tabloid journalism and populist politics has predictably left us way behind compared to Europe. Rather than reducing criminality, bad management increases it and corrupts.

People who are in and out of prison have people on the “outside” who can do things for them and vice versa.The culture of prison officers and managers evolved to deal with that. They, like the people in their charge, stuck together and are loyal to each other. Similarly for the police. In practice it just has to be that way and any change has to be very well planned and thought out.

When I discovered that Pentridge has these acres of former market gardens I had the bright idea that “we” could get prisoners into growing and selling plants. Of course they were wildly enthusiastic — given that most I worked with and met expected to go back in again.

It was a really naive stupid idea.The potential for burying, transporting and dealing drugs — not around in the 19th century when Pentridge was designed — was almost unlimited.

Putting Carl Williams on the front page of a Herald Sun outraged at “benefits” he was receiving was a mind-blowingly stupid idea and it was no surprise he was killed on the same day — nominated as a “grass”.

The stupidity of the journalism was only matched by the Victorian government’s inability to pre-empt what the outcome would be and head it off — having subcontracted prison management as a substitute for Ministerial and Departmental Responsibility.

We have elected successive governments that have resisted establishing an Independent Commission Against Corruption or a Royal Commission in Victoria. Now we are all becoming scared at how far the corruption has gone.

Clearly, the longer it is left, the worse it will get.