EIGHT OUT OF 10 PRISONERS DRUG ABUSERS: ACT STUDY

Eight out of 10 of the ACT's jail inmates have a history of drug and
alcohol abuse: and one in three has a mental illness.

These are among the key findings of a study of Canberra's prison population
- - at present 120 prisoners - issued yesterday by the ACT Attorney-General,
Gary Humphries.

Mr Humphries said the study was to gain a better understanding of prisoners
for building an ACT prison and for custodial management procedures.

Offenders sentenced in Canberra go to NSW jails.

Mr Humphries said the average ACT prisoner was an English-speaking male,
aged 31, who was unemployed, did not complete a school education and had a
history of drug and/or alcohol abuse.

The prisoner would have a juvenile crime record and was likely to be
serving an eight-year sentence with a non-parole period of three years and
four months.

Separate studies at Belconnen Remand Centre earlier this year showed 57 per
cent of inmates were heroin users, highlighting the substantial impact of
heroin on crime in the ACT.

Mr Humphries said that the findings showed education and drug
rehabilitation would be important in plans for a new ACT jail.

But it would be costly to provide suitable programs for such a small prison.

Labor's spokesman on police, MLA Bill Wood, said yesterday that Labor
strongly supported building a prison in Canberra.

The prison study shows that the ACT has the lowest imprisonment rate in the
country, with 49 prisoners per 100,000 population. Victoria has 70,
Tasmania 80, South Australia 131, Queensland 133, NSW 133, Western
Australia 171 and the Northern Territory 388.

"The challenge is a tough one because the scale of programs required for a
prison for a relatively small population could foreshadow significant
costs," Mr Humphries said.

"This fact means that this community needs to identify the priorities for
maximum focus."

The findings showed:
* 92 per cent inmates were male, 8 per cent female. * 80 per cent were born
in Australia; 82 per cent from English- speaking backgrounds. * 6 per cent
were Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders. * Average was age 31. * 52 per
cent had not completed secondary education. * 73 per cent were unemployed.
* 77 per cent had a history of drug and/or alcohol abuse. * 54 were
sentenced for a non-violent offence. * 33 per cent had a history of mental
illness. * 56 per cent had a juvenile criminal record.

WHO'S INSIDE


ACT prisoners by most serious offences committed
Offence Number per cent prisoners
Homicide 14 11.67
Assault 14 11.67
Sexual Assault 6 5.00
Other sex offences 2 1.67
Armed robbery 19 15.83
Unlawful entry offences 20 16.67
Handling stolen goods 3 2.50
Vehicle theft 1 0.83
Other theft 7 5.83
Property damage offences 5 4.17
Justice procedure offences* 12 10.00
Weapons offences 1 0.83
Drug offences 13 10.83
Traffic offences 3 2.50
TOTAL 120 100.00

* Justice procedure offences includes breach of court orders
(including domestic violence orders), offences against police, breach
of bail or warrants Figures as of May 1997

PRISON - HOW WE RATE
Prisoners per 100,000
ACT 49
Victoria 70
Tasmania 80
South Australia 131
Queensland 133
New South Wales 133
Western Australia 171
Northern Territory 388

[Our newshawk writes: Peter Watney's note: USA rate was 615 per 100,000 on
30th June 1996]