What you said about Qld jails capacity and LNP crime laws

The jury is out on what to do with Queensland’s jails after it was revealed a new mega facility would need to be built. HAVE YOUR SAY

Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre west of Brisbane

More jails or less comfort?

The jury is out on what to do with Queensland’s jails after it was revealed a new mega facility would need to be built for every prisoner to have a cell to themselves as inmate numbers continue to soar, new figures show.

Queensland Corrective Service figures show there were 10,854 prisoners in jails across the state in October, living out of 7602 cells.

Many have been forced to “double up” with other prisoners in small cells, with the majority having to sleep in a bunk bed set up while sharing a toilet, shower and television.

Some inmates – such as those in remand centre Arthur Gorrie jail – have to sleep on mattresses on the floor.

A new jail at Gatton will open within months, eventually holding up to 1536 prisoners, but inmates around the state will continue to share cells.

The issue is set to become a challenge for the incoming LNP government, having campaigned on tough law-and-order measures.

Premier David Crisafulli with Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber on Sunday. Picture: Richard Walker

The prison population also increased significantly under the former Campbell Newman-led LNP government.

High-profile solicitor Bill Potts said he expected prisons to continue filling under the new government, which would ultimately mean even more jails being required.

However many readers insisted that jails should be as uncomfortable as possible.

Others, though, said more jails was the solution, while some blamed governments for not controlling the situation.

See what you had to say below and join the conversation >>>

WHAT YOU SAID

Build more jails

Andrew

Rack and stack them, most Queenslanders really don’t care, just lock them up.

Ian

Time for Queensland to have prisons instead of correctional centres. People who continually reoffend obviously can’t or won’t be corrected.

Vortigern

Labor steadfastly refused to keep the pace of provision of infrastructure up with increasing population. Jails are only one example.

No sympathy

J*P

Make it as uncomfortable as possible and maybe they won’t want to come back.

Nicholas

Oh no criminals have to share their room … probably shouldn’t have committed a crime then?!

Weary

Oh so they don’t get a cell to themselves … tragic!

J*P

It’s the repeat offenders that need to be locked away. They are past rehab and tough deterrent sentences is the best option.

Criminal lawyer Bill Potts has had his say on Queensland’s jails.

I have an idea

Peter

Send them Bush into a Work Camp ! No TV or Mobile Phones, just work ! Plenty of disused Donga’s and Shearing Shed Quarters.

NickD

Prisoners should be made to work, not laze about in their own cell with an ensuite and TV doing nothing.

If they were made to work, their incarceration could end up helping society – think free labor for roads, new affordable housing etc.

Wayne

Put 6 in a cell. Like they do in some South American gaols. They are not hotels. Might make them think about doing the crime

J & J

So the good solicitor says that jail is not to the solution. There is no evidence that jail works he says.

Well the fact that no one has ever broken into a home or stolen a car while inside a jail cell is enough evidence for me to say it works.

Plan won’t work

D

The lnp says they will bring in legislation during the coming week and have it in force by Christmas. If you think your legislation will be passed, you have not given a lot of thought to the legislation and no doubt will be torn to shreds. The lnp are not as tough as they are trying to make out.

Donald

As if the LNP didn’t know the cost of “getting tough on crime”. We still have time to cancel the Olympics and concentrate on housing.

Realist

I am sorry, Bill. You have been part of the problem for many years now with your soft on crime, bleeding heart approach.

David

Unfortunately there is always a % of the population that are just inherently bad people which are going to require to be kept in jail.