ANOTHER BULLETIN
THE LNP is pledging millions of dollars on a plan to keep criminals from reoffending on Gold Coast streets.
The Bulletin this year reported about 8000 released prisoners were breaking parole, adding $40 million a year to the taxpayer bill.
Prison sources yesterday said the crisis had worsened as jail population for the first time topped more than 120 per cent.
Police fear the lack of spare beds in jails will continue to put extra pressure on magistrates and judges to give parole to violent offenders.
The LNP announcement is another significant breakthrough in the Bulletin’s Going for Gold election campaign, which asks the major parties to commit to projects crucial to the city’s development.
THE LNP is working on a plan to reduce reoffending rates as Queensland’s prisons peak at more than 120 per cent capacity.
A Bulletin report in February warned about 8000 released prisoners were breaking parole and being forced back to jail, adding $40 million a year to the taxpayer bill.
Prison sources yesterday said the crisis had worsened as Corrective Services and police monitored jails where the population for the first time had topped more than 120 per cent.
Police fear the lack of spare beds in jails will continue to put extra pressure on magistrates and judges to give parole to violent offenders.
The Bulletin’s Going for Gold campaign has called for both major parties to boost Corrective Services resourcing to ensure violent criminals are not released on the streets.
Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls yesterday pledged an additional $8 million as part of the LNP’s plan to reduce reoffending rates among those released from jail.
“The LNP will invest $5 million in prisoner re-entry programs with a specific focus on reducing reoffending rates. We will also provide certainty to the Youth Advocacy Centre ... by extending their funding for a further three years.”
The centre provides bail support initiatives for youths to helps them find safe and appropriate accommodation and to prevent them spending time behind bars pending court.