Tight contracts for private jails

Privately run prisons will face big fines for escapes and they will be expected to reduce recidivism rates and drug use, Corrections Minister Judith Collins said yesterday.

The Government will put prison management out to tender and a bill is going through Parliament to allow that.

Ms Collins said when Auckland Central Remand Prison (ACRP) was privately run there was a $50,000 fine for every escape.

"That actually resulted in one escape in five years," she said on TV One's Q&A programme.

Ms Collins said a fine of similar size would be put in contracts for privately run prisons. She also wanted to see recidivism rates come down and low drug use by prisoners.

"When the (ACRP) prison was privately run there were 5.5 per cent of prisoners there who tested positive for drug use," she said. "At the same stage in the state prisons there were 20 per cent showing drug use."

Ms Collins said the Government might seek tenders for the new prison to be built.

- NZPA