Experts Call On Australian Authorities To Give Some Prisoners Early Release Amid Pandemic

Experts are calling on state, territory and federal authorities to quickly design a framework to give some prisoners an early release due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Nearly 400 academics, lawyers and organisations have signed a letter to prevent inmates from catching Covid-19.

One of the recommendations is considering granting an early release for people serving sentences of less than six months, or with less than six months remaining.

Deakin University professor Felicity Gerry QC said: "The number of people in prisons and youth detention centres needs to be reduced urgently, through suitable release measures.

PA

"Some courts have shown compassion in bail and sentencing applications, but governments need to step up to ensure that prisoners are not unduly exposed to COVID-19."

Leader of the ANU criminology program Professor Lorana Bartels added: "Australian prisons and detention centres will become epicentres for the transmission of COVID-19 if governments don't act now.

"Tens of thousands of people are likely to be released into the community by the end of the year, making them potential carriers of the coronavirus back into communities."

UTS Professor Thalia Anthony said Australian authorities need to work quickly, saying: "It is only a matter of time before COVID-19 breaks out in prisons and youth detentions centres. This will then have a substantial flow-on effect to the community."

New South Wales has passed emergency legislation that would allow for around 14,000 inmates to be released if it's 'reasonably necessary because of the risk to public health'.

Pxfuel

However, early release will be granted on a case-by-case basis.

Victorian authorities are currently looking at a framework of how to grant an early release of prisoners, but there are already systems in place to prevent

A spokesperson for the state government said to AAP: "There are established processes for preventing and managing communicable diseases in custody, including isolation protocols.

"Prison health and custodial staff in the Corrections and Youth Justice system have been briefed on coronavirus symptoms and potential risks and procedures for managing the virus."

There haven't been any cases of coronavirus in any prison system across Australia.

In every state and territory, prisoners have been banned from having face-to-face visitors to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Topics: News, Australia

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

@stewartperrie