Canberra jail may get supervised injecting room under prison syringe scheme

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Canberra jail may get supervised injecting room under prison syringe scheme

29 July 2016

By Natasha Boddy- The Canberra Times

Canberra's adult jail may get a medically supervised injecting room, after it was chosen as the preferred model for a prison needle and syringe program (PNSP).

A working group believes a supervised injecting room was the "most viable model" for the environment at the Alexander Maconochie Centre, Corrections Minister Shane Rattenbury said on Friday.

The working group's decision comes after a year of consideration and signals a PNSP may now finally be a step closer.

The working party was established after the government deferred controversial plans for a PNSP in Canberra jail in April 2015 due to protracted opposition by prison staff.

Mr Rattenbury said the working group would consult with staff and stakeholders in coming weeks to nut out the detail of the model, before being put to staff for a vote.
"Our primary focus in developing a needle and syringe program is to reduce the spread of serious blood-borne viruses among detainees," he said.

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Thumbnail: Flickr CC tschoppi