Juffa: Cut privileges

 NORTHERN Governor Gary Juffa says prisoners should not be given any privileges while serving jail terms.

“When we send prisoners to jail, we say they must go through hard labour but it seems if you go to a prison now you will see that prisoners are not going through any hard labour at all for the crimes that they have committed,” he told Parliament yesterday.

“Prisoners are given three meals a day, they are given mobile phones and various human rights NGOs and  international organisations are trying to give them education services and even ministers are negotiating for them to have sex,” Juffa said.

Correctional Service Minister Jim Simatab said according to the law, the CS commissioner could allow certain privileges for low-risk prisoners and those nearing the end of their jail terms.

“Those that are allowed mobile phones are some low-risk prisoners. Special requests can be granted for certain prisoners who have one or two months left in their jail term and are not considered harmful are allowed to visit their families,” Simatab said.

He said the department was currently reviewing its institutional structure and looking at its constitution with the assistance of a consultant from the United Kingdom.

Simatab said the department was seriously looking at ways to improve its security system and the conduct of its officers.