Change allows wider use of court cells

Corrections Minister Judith Collins. Photo / Mark Mitchell

The Government introduced the Corrections (Use of Court Cells) Amendment Bill under urgency and passed it through all its stages.

Only the Green Party opposed it, and the bill passed its third reading by 112 votes to 9.

The bill amends corrections and resource management legislation to allow sentenced prisoners to be kept in court cell blocks.

Corrections Minister Judith Collins told Parliament the use of the cells would be a last resort.

"The use of these cells for Corrections Department prisoners will not be allowed to interfere with the operation of the courts, including the normal function of these cells - detaining people who are appearing before the court."

The prison population was around the highest level it had ever been and it was forecast to continue to grow, Ms Collins said.

The Government was extending double bunking and the use of container cells to address capacity.

Court cells had been used in the past.

- NZPA