Northern Territory Budget 2012 delivers $20 million investment into correctional services

A $20.2 million investment in correctional services was announced by Correctional Services Minister Gerry McCarthy on 22 April 2012. The funding will be invested into 189 more prisoner beds, 10 diversion beds, the recruitment of 63 more staff, and other associated infrastructure as part of the Northern Territory Budget 2012.

Mr McCarthy said the funding allocation had been strategically planned in line with the Northern Territory New era in corrections initiative, a package designed to help break the cycle of recidivism. This initiative includes prisoner work orders, the anticipated completion of an 800-bed Doug Owston Correctional Centre at Holtze in 2014, and a host of other projects.

The funding allocation includes:

• $3.53 million to manage 95 more prisoner beds at the Darwin Correctional Centre
• $6.59 million for 50 more beds and associated support infrastructure at the Alice Springs Correctional Centre, including new education and training facilities
• $1.55 million to manage 24 more beds at the Barkly Prisoner Work Camp near Tennant Creek
• $6.92 million for construction of a 20-bed treatment/training facility for driving offenders, and non-violent crime offenders, at the Alice Springs Correctional Centre site
• $1.61 million to provide 10 more alcohol and other drug treatment beds and associated programs in Darwin and Alice Springs as an alternative to imprisonment.

Source: Northern Territory Government

Contacts

Media contact:
Kelly Parkes
Mobile: 0419 409 958

Links

• View information: New era in corrections
• View media release: Budget delivers $20 million for prisoner beds and staff