Alice Springs prison inmates swelter in unairconditioned cells as temperatures hit record levels

CONDITIONS in Alice Springs prison are ‘insane and inhumane’, with prisoners sweltering in unairconditioned cells as the Centre enters its second week with temperatures above 42C

Conditions in the Alice Springs prison are “insane and inhumane”, with prisoners sweltering in unairconditioned cells as the Centre enters its second week with temperatures above 42C

CONDITIONS in the Alice Springs prison are “insane and inhumane”, with prisoners sweltering in unairconditioned cells as the Centre enters its second week with temperatures above 42C.

The NT News understands prisoners have made complaints about the oppressive heat to both the NT Ombudsman and to the Australian Human Rights Commission.

Criminal Lawyers Association of the NT president Marty Aust said the facility’s current air extraction system did little to cool prisoners.

“My understanding from people on the ground, is that they are largely superfluous,” he said. Mr Aust’s comments come just one month after a riot at Alice Springs Correctional Centre.

The uproar was sparked over a defective air extraction system in the prison. “The riots were ultimately desperate people crying out for water and ice and cordial,” Mr Aust said.

“The weather in Central Australia, for the month since the incident, has been at record levels – with temperatures over 40C for weeks on end … it’s yet another example of a broken and failing system.”

An NT Correctional Services spokeswoman said a range of heat mitigation measures had been introduced at the jail over the past few weeks to improve conditions for inmates.

“These include improving airflow by ensuring all extractor fans are fully operational, increasing access to ice for all prisoners; installing additional fans and ordering a new trial misting fan system; ordering new fridges for prisoners to increase access to cold drinks,” she said.

Mr Aust said the initiatives were a step in the right direction.

“Anything that will improve conditions is promising and should be supported,” he said.

“Prison guards themselves have stated the conditions are inhumane and insane.”

Mr Aust said he’d been told by one person that they’d rather serve time “on the surface of the sun” than in Alice Springs prison.

In addition to the heat, Mr Aust said the facility also had serious problems with overcrowding. He wanted people behind bars to have better access to rehabilitation programs.

“People are in prison as punishment, not to be punished,” Mr Aust said.

“People in prison in the modern age should be afforded every opportunity to educate themselves and tackle addiction and better themselves.

“They should be released fitter, healthier and more able to engage in the wider community in a positive way – but it appears that constantly people are being exposed to dangerous health conditions.”

Mr Aust said people who served time in the NT were often released in the “same or worse condition”