Dozens of inmates tested for COVID-19 since April, as NT Corrections reveals coronavirus safety regulations for prisons
A TOTAL of 44 prisoners in the Northern Territory have been tested for COVID-19 after showing symptoms while behind bars
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
SINCE April, 44 prisoners have been tested for COVID-19 after showing symptoms while behind bars.
No prisoner has tested positive.
An NT Correctional Services spokeswoman said new prisoners were placed in isolation for 14 days before joining the general population while those who presented with symptoms were also isolated from other inmates until given the all clear.
“Correctional Services is taking a staged approach as part of its COVID – 19 road map to the new normal and continues to implement a range of precautionary measures,” she said.
“All new prisoners entering a custodial facility are placed in isolation and monitored for 14 days and are tested for COVID-19 if they display any symptoms during this time.
“After the 14 days in isolation, prisoners undergo a medical examination before joining the rest of the general correctional facility population.”
MORE COVID-19 NEWS
Darwin grandma stranded overseas for six months during pandemic
Stranded backpacker ‘desperate’ for work in Darwin
NT gets on board ScoMo’s bus as ‘hot spot model’ gets pushed to other states and territories
Criminal Lawyers Association NT president Marty Aust said CLANT’s concern with people being remanded in custody and having to undergo 14-days of isolation meant they may fall through the cracks or serve more time behind bars than when convicted.
“There have been instances where people have been remanded in custody, they are awaiting the results of their COVID test and they can’t attend their court date or appear on the AVL because they are in quarantine and that’s very concerning,” Mr Aust said.
“If they are being isolated and there’s no way for them to access their lawyer it presents issues with them accessing their legal rights and having their rights preserved.”
Mr Aust said communication between legal services, the court, Corrections and police needed to be upheld to ensure people in custody were able to access their legal rights.
“It’s important that communication is effective but it’s also important to have a slightly pragmatic approach in the use of arrest and warrants at this current point in time knowing the processes in place and having to manage people for the safety of those in prison,” he said.
LIMITED TIME: New NT News subscription offer: $1 a week for the first 12 weeks
The NT Correctional Services spokeswoman said the four custodial facilities in the Territory qualified as places of quarantine under the COVID-19 contingency plans.
‘Destruction’: Bedrooms trashed, officers attacked at youth facilities
The destruction of seven bedrooms has accrued up to $200k in damages less than a week after the opening of the new Holtze centre, while an officer was allegedly bitten twice in Alice Springs.
Trial adjourned as Milgate looks for forensic psychiatrist assistance
Suzi Milgate’s charge of assaulting former Chief Minister Natasha Fyles has been delayed a further three months, with the former real estate agent now on the hunt to seek out a forensic psychiatrist.