JOINT MEDIA RELEASE

NORTH AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINAL JUSTICE AGENCY (NAAJA)

CENTRAL AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINAL LEGAL AID SERVICES INC (CAALAS)

 

Corrections Bill needs to include rehabilitation

 

26 August 2014

 

The new Correctional Services Bill gives too much power to Corrections at the expense of the basic rights of prisoners.

 

Government media releases frequently talk about the rehabilitation of prisoners in the NT -but the Bill before Parliament has deliberately excluded any mention of rehabilitation.  Unlike similar legislation in other states, there is nothing that spells out the rights of prisoners.

 

“We have the highest imprisonment rate in Australia. The financial and social cost to the community is enormous.  It is critical that the government genuinely commits to the rehabilitation of prisoners to better ensure that when they leave prison, they don’t come back”, said NAAJA CEO Priscilla Collins.

 

“Many of our prisoners speak and understand limited English, have mental health problems and disabilities and are in poor health more generally. This legislation needs to be amended to ensure that their basic rights are protected by the law”, said Ms Collins.

 

“Taxpayers have a right to expect value for money. Unless we ensure rehabilitation of prisoners is a key legislative focus, the government’s talk about reducing the imprisonment rate and rehabilitating repeat offenders is empty rhetoric.”

 

The Bill also introduces sweeping new powers, removes basic safeguards and does not adequately provide for transparency and oversight of what happens behind prison walls.

 

“Corrections will be given a broad power to charge inmates money to recuperate the expense of running a prison.  But prisoners who aren’t earning income won’t be able to pay for their return home and risk being stranded in Darwin or Alice Springs when they are released,” said CAALAS Principal Legal Officer, Mark O’Reilly.

 

“We also have serious concerns about the health provisions, including forcing prisoners to take medication and allowing automatic access to health records, which go well beyond the operation of the current Act” said Mr O’Reilly.

 

The Bill also should ensure that an independent expert is able to look behind the prison walls, to ensure that basic human rights are being met.

 

“We urge the Government to introduce an Independent Custodial Inspector like exists in WA”, said Ms Collins.

 

“If the Government is managing prisoners properly, it should have nothing to hide”, said Ms Collins.

 

Contacts:

 

NAAJA

Jared Sharp

Managing Solicitor, Law and Justice

(08) 8982 5131

 

CAALAS

Mark O’Reilly

Principal Legal Officer

(08) 8950 9300