NT remand prisoner numbers up more than 50 per cent in three years

The number of prisoners remanded in custody across the NT has skyrocketed, new statistics show. And the trend is being blamed for the Territory’s under pressure prison system.

The number of prisoners remanded in custody across the Territory has increased by more than 50 per cent in three years as prisons across the NT battle overcrowding, new statistics show.

Since January 1, 2020, the number of prisoners on remand has increased from 503 to 774, with the 53 per cent increase being blamed for additional pressure on Territory jails.

The figures, taken from Darwin Correctional Centre, Alice Springs Correctional Centre, Barkly Work Camp and Datjala Work Camp, also show the number of prisoners in custody who have been sentenced has grown by less than 1 per cent in the same period.

A Corrections spokesman said the increase in remand prisoners put “significant pressure” on correctional services.

The number of remanded prisoners across the Territory has increased more than 50 per cent since January 2020.

According to the Attorney-General’s Department, overall prisoner numbers across the Territory increased by 16 per cent since 2020, with Alice Springs Correctional Centre recording a 21 per cent increase and Darwin Correctional Centre 12 per cent.

Between January 4 and January 10, correctional services received 77 prisoners into custody and released 60.

Of the 650 prisoners in the full Alice Springs Correctional Centre, 284 were on remand as of January 13, while at Darwin Correctional Centre, 516 of the 1243 prisoners were on remand.

Barkly Work Camp and Datjala Work Camp only house sentenced prisoners.

Criminal Lawyers Association of the Northern Territory president Shane McMaster said the increased remand rates were a “massive problem”.

The number of prisoners held on remand at Alice Springs Correctional Centre has increased by 21 per cent since January 2020.

“The unfortunate thing is people are just sitting there,” Mr McMaster said.

He said he was aware of a prisoner who had been on a waiting list to see an optometrist and dentist for 10 months while on remand.

The figures come on the back of revelations police watch houses across the Territory were being used to house prisoners for longer than typically expected.

A corrections spokesman said the number of prisoners being held at police watch houses was “within expected range”.

In an email to staff, Alice Springs Correctional Centre general manager Bill Carroll said police watch houses would likely be used to house remanded prisoners despite the prison’s capacity being expanded by 80 beds.

However, in an email informing staff of plans to increase the capacity of Alice Springs Correctional Centre from 650 to 730, general manager Bill Carroll said remand prisoners in watch houses were going as long as two days without access to a shower.

He told staff even with the extra beds in the jail, prisoners would likely still be held in watch houses.

“Remand prisoners are just not given the same priority as sentenced prisoners,” Mr McMaster said.

“It’s completely unacceptable for prisoners to be held in watch houses … beyond the absolute minimum.”

Originally published as NT remand prisoner numbers up more than 50 per cent in three years