PRISONS

THE Government plans to extend the power of probation officers to test
prisoners released from jails to include drugs other than heroin and cocaine.

Young offenders aged 18-20 will be asked to sign a "Going Straight
Contract" under which they would agree to take part in intensive training
and education in jail for which they would receive enhanced wages.

One third of the wage would go into a reparation fund for victims, one
third for use on leaving jail and a third for use in prison.

The White Paper sets out ambitious plans for modernising jails including
closing down or allowing the private sector to bid to run those that
underperform. It says the historic inadequacies of the prison estate must
be addressed and suggests that as the population falls, outdated jails
would be closed.

It suggests campus-style prisons which would include separate accommodation
for young offenders, women, remand prisoners and adults all on one site.
However, there is no analysis of how much the proposals would cost.

The Prison Ombudsman would be put on a statutory basis and consideration
given to allowing him to investigate suicides in jails.

The Prison Service faces a maintenance bill of almost AUKP1 billion over
the next three years.