The Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Corrections, Gerard Maley, told Living Black:
Prison populations will not stabilise until we see real reductions in crime.
This hinges on several factors including prison programs and community initiatives, but community safety and a reduction in crime is the government’s primary focus.
The CLP knew, coming into government, a tough-on-crime policy would lead to an increase in the imprisonment rate, but the long-term stabilisation can occur and that is why our government has funded corrections to increase prevention and rehabilitation strategies.
Implementing rehabilitation programs within prisons and increasing the capacity of community corrections can lower recidivism rates, helping to gradually stabilise prison populations
We understand that it will require consistent investment in community services and a gradual shift in public and political attitudes towards crime and punishment.
This isn't an overnight transformation, but a strategic, long-term change.
We make no apologies for taking strong action to restore law and order in the Territory—this is what Territorians voted for, and we are delivering.
But stronger laws alone are not enough.
Territorians also want to see greater parental responsibility and stronger community leadership to address youth crime.
That’s why the CLP has launched the Circuit Breaker Program, which is an early intervention initiative that aims to address the root causes of youth crime while holding parents accountable.
It provides intensive case management, family responsibility agreements, and specialist referrals to support at-risk young people and break the cycle of harmful behaviour.
Every Territorian has the right to be safe.
If you do the right thing, you have nothing to worry about—but if you break the law, you will be held accountable.
A NT Corrections Department Spokesperson told Living Black:
Prison numbers will only stabilise when crime rates come down, which is why the Government approved $126 million in budget 2025-26 and $176 million from 2026-27, as well as contingencies of $40 million in 2025-26 and $50 million in 2026-27 to manage rising prisoner numbers through additional staffing and operational capacity.
The Government was voted in on a mandate to address crime in the Territory, which includes addressing the root cause of crime.
Programs such as Community Youth Diversion, bail support accommodation facilities and the introduction of youth boot camps provide an alternative to detention.
These programs are designed and delivered to tackle youth crime head-on by offering early intervention and community support to steer young offenders away from court, helping them make better decisions and break the cycle of crime.
For young people who need extra support, they can also be referred to the Department of Children and Families’ Circuit Breaker Program.
We have outsourced certain tasks, such as prisoner transport and court and medical escorts, to ensure our Correctional Officers can focus on their essential roles inside the prison.
We have invested in new boot camp and bail support facilities in Tennant Creek and Alice Springs for youth to provide structured and supervised community-based interventions to address criminogenic behaviours, promote accountability and equip the participants with the skills to support rehabilitation and reintegration.
These facilities will be run by departmental staff, in conjunction with local Aboriginal Community Organisations, and social services providers, to support participants to reengage with their family and community with an increased sense of cultural identity and pride.
In response to claims a detainee was told to drink toilet water, a Corrections Department Spokesperson told Living Black:
Young people have access to water bubblers 24 hours a day, including in their individual bedrooms.
Each bedroom has an ensuite with a wall mounted bubbler above a basin and a separate toilet.
A NT Government spokesperson told Living Black it is committed to rehabilitation:
Detainees at Holtze Youth Detention Centre engage in structured daily routines focused on education, life skills, and rehabilitation, with services continuing post-release through a through-care plan.
Education is provided five days a week for 45 weeks of the year through Tivendale School, offering core literacy and numeracy along with programs that meet individual student needs.
Aboriginal organisations deliver cultural programs at HYDC, and monthly visits from Elders provide important cultural advice and support.
Specialist Assessment and Treatment Services (SATS) deliver therapeutic interventions, including counselling, forensic assessments, and revised programs for substance use and mental health.
Between January and April 2025, over 1,600 program and activity sessions were delivered at HYDC, along with over 250 counselling and assessment sessions.
Youth detainees have the opportunity to engage in the Northern Territory (NT) Certificate of Education and training and skills developments through partnerships with:
- Palmerston Youth Skills Centre
- Life Saving NT
- Drive Safe NT
- Darwin Wildlife Sanctuary
- Indigenous Marathon Foundation
- NT Athletics
- Army Indigenous Development Programs
- Hoops for Health
- Clontarf
Programs delivered within HYDC have an average participation rate of 72 per cent and include:
- Offending behaviour
- Domestic and family violence prevention
- Sexual assault prevention
- Substance misuse
- Respectful relationships
- Employability workshops
- Vocational training
- Driving education
- Mental health
- Social and emotional wellbeing
- Cultural programs
- Understanding consequences
The Youth Boot Camp Program offers a proactive and transformative approach to addressing youth crime by providing an alternative to detention for young offenders aged 14 to 17.
With the Northern Territory Government's commitment of $15 million towards these camps in regions such as Greater Darwin and Central Alice Springs, the program underscores a shift towards rehabilitation over punishment.
Instead of traditional punitive measures, this program focuses on structured, community-based interventions to tackle the root causes of delinquent behaviour.
By promoting accountability and providing skills essential for rehabilitation and reintegration, Youth Boot Camps aim to reduce recidivism and foster positive community engagement.
It is planned that the Department will commence the Youth Boot Camp Program in July 2025, and anticipate it will include:
- Work Readiness & Trade Skills Boot Camp
- Wellness, Fitness & Discipline Camp
- Equine Therapy & Farm Skills Camp
- Outdoor Leadership Camp
- Land Conservation Work Skills Camp
- Bush Survival, Cultural and Community Service Camp
- Fire & Emergency Response Training Camp
The Department of Corrections provides rehabilitation programs to offenders both in prison and the community.
These programs, designed and delivered by allied health professionals, address the causes of offending to reduce reoffending.
Corrections is expanding programs, including those for domestic violence, and piloting new community programs like the 'General Offending' program.
An NDIS team helps prisoners with disabilities access the NDIS, providing Territory-wide support and discharge planning.
The high number of prisoners has focus on offence-specific programs like RAGE.
The RAGE program stands for Recognising Anger, Gaining Empowerment and is an intensive program for family and domestic violence offenders.
RAGE is designed to help offenders understand and manage their anger, particularly in the context of family violence.
The program was developed by clinicians in the Northern Territory with the support from Elders and Aboriginal staff and is delivered over a three-to-six-month period.
This budget allocates an additional $4.2 million for domestic and family violence programs within the Department of Corrections.
Adult prisoner education programs include:
- English Literacy and Numeracy
- Certificate in General Education of Adults
- Steps Gateway to Independent Living
- Recognising Anger / Gaining Empowerment (RAGE)
- Pre training Horticulture Program
- Learners Drivers Licence
- Certificate I in Agriculture
- Certificate II in Agriculture
- Certificate II in Horticulture
- Certificate II in Visual Arts
- Certificate IV in Visual Arts
- Certificate I in Retail Services
- Certificate II in Retail Services
- Barista training
- Certificate II in Construction Skill Set
- White Card
- Licence to Operate a Forklift
- Test and Tag
- Certificate II in Civil Machinery
- Infection Prevention and Control Skillset
- Workplace Skills for Health Sector
- Certificate II in Community Services
- First Aid
- Certificate II in Sport and Recreation
- University of Southern Queensland
- Tertiary Pathways Program
- Bachelor of Business
- Indigenous Higher Education Pathways Program
- Intensive Alcohol and Drugs Program
- Safe, Sober, Strong Program
- Family Violence Prevention Program
- Addictive Behaviours Program
- Sex Offenders Treatment Program
- General Offending Program
The Deputy Chief Minister also confirmed that the NT Government would not, under any circumstances, support any prospective attempts to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 14.
