CRACKDOWN ON PRISONERS

Mandatory drug tests of jail inmates, a clampdown on the release of
sex offenders and tighter supervision of newly-released prisoners are
part of a jail reform package approved by State Cabinet. Prisons
Minister Tom Barton said the Government was "getting tough on inmates".

He said a re-written Corrective Services Act would be presented to
State Parliament this year. Under the clampdown, no prisoner serving a
term of more than two years will be allowed back into the community
unsupervised.

Inmates sentenced to less than two years will have to serve two-
thirds of the time before being considered for parole. Previously they
could get out with good behaviour after half the sentence.

Mr Barton said inmates would have just a single right under the new
rules regime ... "the right to one non-contact visit a week".

"Everything else is a privilege, and is subject to being taken away if
they transgress," he said.

"It is ridiculous, for instance, that under current legislation an
inmate can refuse to submit to a drug test and nothing happens.

"Under our proposals, proper random testing will be done in all
correctional facilities, and anybody who refuses will be deemed to
have tested positive, and will suffer the appropriate penalties."

Under the changes, prison officers will not be allowed to shoot at
escaping prisoners.

Mr Barton said lethal force could be used only if violence was being
committed or the lives of prison officers, other prisoners or the
public were in danger.

"The power is similar to that given to police," he said. "They cannot
shoot an escaping person in the back."

Mr Barton said plans to tighten remission were aimed specifically at
sex offenders.

"They will now be supervised until the completion of their sentences,"
he said. "If they are considered a threat to re-offend, they will not
be eligible for community release but will serve their time."

The rules set stringent penalties for prisoners who break
them.Queensland Council for Civil Liberties spokesman, Ian Dearden,
said he would look at the final draft legislation in April, but was
"most concerned" with the remission proposals.

Prisoners' Legal Service co-ordinator Karen Fletcher said inmates had
rights under inter national human rights covenants.

"Our greatest concern is about the move to abolish unsupervised
community-based release for those serving less than two years," Ms
Fletcher said.