Overcrowded prisons in the Northern Territory are at a “critical tipping point” says the head of the state’s parole board.
Prison numbers were more than 10 per cent above capacity for most of 2019, said chair of the NT Parole Board, Justice Southwood.
Almost 85 per cent of the NT prison population is Aboriginal.
"The operation of the two correctional centres in the Northern Territory is reaching a critical tipping point," said Justice Southwood.
"The number of hours prisoners are spending in their cells has significantly increased. There continues to be insufficient rehabilitation resources available to prisoners in the two major correctional centres."