Prison workers demand solutions to overcrowding rates in Darwin, Alice Springs

Territory prisoners have been forced to sleep on mattresses on the floor, with overcrowding rates reaching new highs.

Territory prisons are “bursting at the seams” with people forced to sleep on mattresses on the floor and in overcrowded cells.

United Workers Union secretary Erina Early has accused both sides of politics of using staff and prisoners as a “political pawn”, with overcrowding rates putting everyone at risk.

Ms Early said there were 1192 prisoners at Darwin Correctional Centre on Monday, 144 over the prison’s design capacity.

Darwin’s Holtze prison was designed for 1048 people, while Alice Springs was built for 476 people.

The centres can take in additional people, with an operational capacity of 1174 people at Darwin and 650 in Alice Springs.

The Attorney-General and Justice Department confirmed that on November 30 Darwin Correctional Centre was 27 people over its operational capacity, with 1201 prisoners, and had three beds left at Alice Springs, which held 647 people.

The NT News understands some recreational areas have been repurposed to accommodate additional prisoners with the department confirming 76 “contingency mattresses” were in use in Darwin.

A spokesman said there were 18 temporary mattresses in Alice Springs due to high surge in male prisoner numbers.

He said works were under way to convert them to permanent beds.

The Department would not confirm how many cells had more than two prisoners locked together, but the courts have heard details of worsening conditions behind bars.

In November Darwin Local Court heard a 36-year-old man facing assault allegations was kept on remand with three other prisoners in a two-man cell.

United Workers Union NT branch secretary Erina Early with Darwin Correctional Centre prison workers taking protected industrial action on Monday, July 18 2022. Picture: Jason Walls

Ms Early said urgent action was needed to address prison populations and staffing rates.

“Both prisons are bursting at the seams,” she said.

“My members, correctional officers and prisoners are at risk every day due to overcrowding.”

Ms Early said Darwin Corrections staff were told an additional 35 women would be coming up from Alice Springs in the coming week.

“We are expecting that the female prison accommodation will have to double or even triple the numbers in the cells,” she said.

Ms Early said Alice Springs staff particularly were at “breaking point” as the centre was regularly 70 officers short.

Darwin Correctional Centre prison workers taking protected industrial action on Monday, July 18 2022. Picture: Jason Walls

Recently 10 Darwin staff were sent south to provide support after a surge in prison numbers in Alice Springs.

Ms Early said this was a long-running recommendation from the union, but called for more long term solutions and fewer “bandaid solutions”.

The Darwin Correctional Precinct, in Holtze. Picture: Che Chorley

The Department confirmed as of October there were 387 custodial staff in Darwin, including 42 trainees, and 176 including five trainees at Alice Springs.

A spokesman said there was no staff-to-prisoner ratio, with workers allocated based on operational requirements, staff consultation, and budget allocations.

“(The) security of prisoners, staff and visitors is always a priority,” he said.

The annual report found there were more than 180 work health safety reports from Corrections in 2021-22, with prison staff making up 70 per cent of open workers compensation claims within the Justice Department.

NT Prisoner population monthly daily averages 2017-2022, provided by the Department of the Attorney-General and Justice.

The report found the average number of Territory prisoners has broken five year records, with each month recording higher average prisoner populations than any year since 2017.

Chief Judge Elizabeth Morris has told Darwin Local Court the “difficulties” in Holtze were well known, particularly for those on remand.

“We’re having difficulties at the prison at the moment, and more difficulties on one side of the fence than the other side,” Ms Morris said.

Lawyers have repeatedly used the sub-par conditions in the Darwin prison as part of bail applications, citing the NT Bail Act which states a judge consider “the conditions under which the person would be held in custody”.

NT Ombudsman Peter Shoyer has also repeated concerns over a lack of airconditioning in Alice Springs, with temperatures in the cells exceeding 40 degrees in summer.