Too many in clink

THE day is fast approaching when the NT Government and the judiciary will have to make some tough decisions about the number of Territorians being sentenced to jail.

Both the Territory’s prisons are full.

Darwin is 27 inmates above capacity. One of the recreation rooms has had to be turned into a dormitory and prisoners are often locked in their cells for long periods during the day.

None of this is healthy.

A new low-security centre being built at Berrimah jail will lift capacity by 70.

But this is only a short-term solution. That extra capacity will be taken up within a few years – and the problem of chronic overcrowding will return.

There are only two long-term solutions – building a new prison or reducing the number of offenders being sent to jail.

A new prison would cost at least $100 million to build and millions of dollars a year to run.

That would put a big hole in the Territory’s $2.3 billion annual budget.

Statistics show more offenders are being jailed in the Territory than ever before.

In other words, judges and magistrates are getting tougher, reflecting growing community intolerance towards criminals.

The Government has promised to examine ways to cut the number of offenders being imprisoned.

Even those who believe in “do the crime, do the time” might agree there are better ways of dealing with people who don’t commit crimes against the person than sending them to jail.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Source: Northern Territory News (Editorial)
Pubdate: Mon, 25 July 2005
Copyright: 2005 Northern Territory News
Email: ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au
Website: http://www.ntnews.com.au/