Gunner Government again under fire over prisoners

THE Northern Territory Government has been criticised after the release of official figures showing prisons are overflowing and operating above 100 per cent capacity.

NT Correctional Services figures, released this week, reveal there are a record-high 1833 prisoners, or about 111 per cent of design capacity. The Alice Springs prison is at 128 per cent, with 642 in a facility built to handle up to 500.

The Northern Territory has by far the highest rate of imprisonment in Australia with the majority of prisoners Aboriginal. Youth detention num- bers have also risen. The Government was due to announce yesterday its “financial response” after it said last month it would accept the 227 recommendations of the royal commission into youth detention. These include banning the use of tear gas and force or to discipline children following a scandal that uncovered physical abuse of boys in detention.

NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner (pictured) said the Government was committed to breaking the cycle of people ending up in detention in the NT but it was a major intergenerational problem that could not be fixed overnight.

He said priorities to be announced would include ensuring investment in the crucial “first 1000 days” of a child’s life, and better diversion, community work and activities outside of youth justice.