Overcrowding forces prisoner transfers

Prisoners have been transferred to Alice Springs in a bid to ease chronic overcrowding at the Darwin jail.

Twenty-two prisoners were moved to the Alice Springs facility on Wednesday in a bid to ease chronic crowding at the Berrimah jail, which has been over-capacity since January.

Even after the transfer, the prison is holding 29 inmates more than it was built to hold.

In another emergency move, the Northern Territory Government has just approved the use of the Darwin police station for prisoners who cannot be accommodated at Berrimah.

The director of Correctional Services, Jens Tolstrup, says using the police cells will be a last resort.

"As we see the situation now, probably we don't have to and we are certainly not, don't want to do it," he said.

Mr Tolstrup says as long as there is room at the Alice Springs jail, Darwin inmates will be sent there.

He says the situation is far from ideal.

"The transferring is something that the Correctional Services and our minister certainly do not like," he said.

"Because we are moving people a very long way from their family and their communities by moving them from Darwin to Alice, but it's the only option we've got."

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Sat, 09 July 2005
Source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Australia Web)
Reporter: Anne Barker
Copyright: 2005 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
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