Jail shortcut faces axe

INMATES could lose access to early release under a practice known as “remission” following a review by the State Government.

The new policy has again brought the Government into conflict with the legal fraternity.

Remission is a reduction in the length of a prisoner’s sentence of up to three months.

Typically it is used as an incentive or reward for good behaviour, but there have been reports remissions have been granted as standard practice.

The Government launched a review into remissions after a prisoner, released early on remission, went on to allegedly commit a serious crime within days of leaving Risdon Prison.

The Mercury understands a second allegedly serious crime was recently committed by a man released on remission.

Acting Corrections Minister Guy Barnett said remission was out of line with community expectations and had been axed in other states.

“The Hodgman Liberal Government is prioritising community safety and the rights of the victims above the freedom of criminals who have not served their sentence,” Mr Barnett said.

“A new alternative for incentivising good behaviour in prison will now be developed but it will not involve prisoners simply being let out to walk the streets.”

The change would need to be passed by parliament.

Australian Lawyers Alliance Tasmanian president Henry Pill said scrapping remission would exacerbate problems in the prison, where last week inmates rioted over conditions.

“This is cruel, cynical policy which will only compound the crisis in our prisons,” he said.

Prisoner Legal Service chairman Greg Barns said it would leave inmates without a reason to behave in Risdon.

“To remove remissions when the prison is already full runs the risk that there will be serious violence and unrest within the jail,” he said. “Even Singapore has remission”.

Opposition corrections spokeswoman Lara Giddings said remissions should not be granted automatically, which had occurred in cases of people in solitary confinement.

“However, simply scrapping remissions without clear alternatives does nothing to encourage rehabilitation of offenders,” Ms Giddings said.

She called for “therapeutic and restorative practices ... not measures that are going to lead to even more overcrowding in our prison”.

Mr Barnett said staffing and funding for the Tasmanian Prison Service were well above levels in the final year of the Labor-Green Government.