The NSW Law Society has expressed concern with the State Government's increase in funding for NSW prisons.
Under the State's budget boost, $3.8 billion will be given to NSW prisons over the next four years.
As part of these funds, prisons will receive new beds with 620 being given to Cessnock Gaol in an attempt to cater to a rising prison population.
According to the Law Society of NSW President, Gary Ulman not enough funds are being given to the wider criminal justice system.
"Money could be better spent on alternative methods of dealing with crime," he said. "They're (the State) is not putting a lot of money into the legal system.
"What we need are more resources being put into the criminal justice system to reduce the delays in hearing criminal matters and therefore the time spent on remand, and to increase accessibility to diversionary options in appropriate circumstances."
Mr. Ulman said that while there will certainly be cases where custodial sentences are appropriate, other viable alternatives to imprisonment are still needed.
"There are many crimes committed that don't warrant custodial sentences and community service orders are a way of dealing with that," he said.
"It costs a lot of money to house a prisoner. It's a huge impost on the economy of the state."
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| Image: Cessnock Gaol Source: [www.theherald.com.au] |
