Govt pressured to ease jail overcrowding

The CLP says the Northern Territory Government is afraid to build a new prison because that would show its crime prevention policies have failed.

The head of correctional services has revealed the population at the Darwin prison is at its highest level since he took the job 10 months ago.

He says he will approach the Government for a solution if the numbers keep climbing.

Justice Minister Peter Toyne has declined to comment.

The Opposition's Jodeen Carney says a report to Government last year recommended the building of a high security prison.

Ms Carney says the Government is afraid to admit the crime rate is rising but says a new jail is needed for the sake of inmates and staff.

"We have had situations for instance in Alice Springs where there have been regular lockdowns because they haven't had the staff on hand to cope with the many people who are in the jails," he said.

"Now those sorts of things seem to be ignored by the Government, to its peril."

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Sat, 14 May 2005
Source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Australia Web)
Copyright: 2005 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
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