New Bail Laws Intensify Strain on an Already Broken System
New bail laws in the Northern Territory are leading to increased pressures on the justice system and overcrowded facilities
Northern Territory, Darwin, Bail Laws, Overcrowding, Justice System, Declan Laverty
Darwin: The Northern Territory is facing a real mess with its prison system. Record numbers of prisoners have led to some drastic measures. They’ve even turned a police watch house into a temporary jail.
The Palmerston watch house, located just north of Darwin, is now being used to hold overflow prisoners. This change is expected to last for the foreseeable future, according to the chief minister.
Recently, the Country Liberal Party made some big changes to bail laws. They decided that anyone committing serious crimes would have to go to jail. These new laws kicked in on Monday, and already, several bail applications were denied.
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro spoke to the press, saying they’re just trying to manage a broken system. She emphasized the need to keep police operations running smoothly as they deal with more people who shouldn’t be on the streets.
The push for tougher laws came after the tragic murder of a bottle shop worker named Declan Laverty by someone who was out on bail. This incident really stirred up public anger.
Now, the territory is seeing a record high of 2,628 prisoners, which is over one percent of the entire population. Meanwhile, around 263 people are stuck in police watch house cells, which is pretty cramped.
Police Commissioner Michael Murphy pointed out that housing prisoners in watch houses is putting extra pressure on police work. He mentioned that dealing with people who might be under the influence or angry makes things even more complicated.
Justice groups and the NT Ombudsman have criticized the use of watch houses as makeshift prisons. They argue that these facilities are not equipped to meet basic human rights standards.
Former NT Ombudsman Peter Shoyer highlighted that the rising number of prisoners is only going to make things worse for these already struggling facilities.
Natalie Hunter, a Nyikina woman and founder of a new organization called Justice Not Jails, expressed frustration. She said Aboriginal people have been trying to get the government to understand the issues for years.
She pointed out that Black children in the Northern Territory face dehumanization at every turn. The overcrowded prison system poses serious risks to the physical and mental health of inmates.
Both the chief minister and the police commissioner expect the number of prisoners to keep rising in the coming weeks. Murphy reassured that their policing efforts won’t slow down anytime soon.