Northern Territory on Track to Recruit 200 Prison Guards in a Year Amid Jail Overcrowding

The NT’s Country Liberal government has pledged $500 million to expand prison capacity and infrastructure.

Signage on a Police vehicle in Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Sept 4, 2022. AAP Image/Aaron Bunch

The Northern Territory is on track to recruit more than 200 correctional officers in under a year, marking the largest expansion in its prison workforce to date.

Corrections Minister Gerard Maley welcomed 32 new trainees on June 6, revealing that 163 officers had joined since July 2024, with another 39 expected before the end of June. The figure includes experienced recruits from other states.