Department of the Attorney-General and Justice
NT Correctional Services has introduced new measures to protect prisoners and the broader community from the threat of coronavirus infection.
Correctional Services is suspending all Community Service Work Party activities from Friday 27 March 2020.
Prisoners in these work parties from the Darwin and Alice Springs correctional centres help with community services such as mowing lawns for pensioners, helping install infrastructure for public events and assisting with the clean up afterwards.
Correctional Services is also suspending voluntary employment and paid employment programs for prisoners at the Datjala work camp in Nhulunbuy and the Barkly work camp in Tennant Creek.
Prisoners from the work camps usually work in local business and for the local councils helping with clearing illegal rubbish dumps, installing art works in public places and supporting local clubs with setting up for events and regional show days.
NT Correctional Services Commissioner Scott McNairn says the top priority is the welfare and safety of all prisoners, staff, essential service providers and the wider community.
‘This is a reasonable response to the risks facing us all during the coronavirus pandemic and is a precautionary approach to protect vulnerable Territorians including our prisoners’, Mr McNairn says.
‘As the situation evolves, Correctional Services continues to work closely with the Department of Health on its pandemic contingency plans and infection control measures’.
For the latest updates on the NT Government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic visit coronavirus.nt.gov.au and the NT Government Facebook page.
