Northern Territory corrections system under scrutiny at DV
The Northern Territory's corrections system has been under scrutiny today as a coronial inquiry into domestic and family violence continues in Darwin. A warning this story contains the names and images of Aboriginal women who have died.
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TVTranscript
00:00 In the Northern Territory there are two prisons and the coroner heard today they're both running
00:06 at capacity and with a shortage of staff.
00:10 Commissioner Matthew Varley was called to the witness box today painting the coroner
00:14 a picture of what goes on behind the wire.
00:17 He revealed both the Darwin and Alice Springs prisons are currently at capacity with more
00:21 than 50 sentenced prisoners also being held in converted police watch houses.
00:27 He told the coroner both prisons are undergoing renovations to expand their capacity and recruitment
00:33 efforts are ongoing to try to build the workforce.
00:36 The court heard there's currently a shortfall of around 50 to 60 corrections officers in
00:41 Alice Springs alone.
00:44 Staffing and funding issues the coroner heard contribute to the prison's ability to offer
00:48 rehabilitation programs.
00:50 She heard at the moment there are four different kinds of rehabilitation programs available
00:56 to prisoners including long term and short term domestic violence specific programs.
01:01 But Commissioner Varley conceded not everyone who wants or needs to access them is able
01:07 to.
01:08 The coroner has heard each of the men who killed the four women at the centre of her
01:12 inquiry had previously committed domestic violence offences and each had been imprisoned.
01:18 Some had taken part in the rehabilitation programs whilst in custody.
01:24 Commissioner Elizabeth Armitage has previously told the court prison did not seem to be effective.
01:30 But the commissioner did outline a handful of new initiatives including bail supported
01:35 accommodation in both Darwin and Alice Springs as well as for the first time in 10 years
01:41 an injection into those rehabilitation programs which will ideally mean more prisoners can
01:47 access them.
01:48 [BLANK_AUDIO]