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New prison facilities planned to resolve overcapacity
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Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna H. Laoly (left) speaks to President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo (center) and Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan after a meeting at the State Palace. (Antara/Puspa Perwitasari)
L
aw and Human Rights Minister Yasonna H. Laoly says the government will build more facilities at prisons because the country’s existing correctional centers are overcapacity.
“We will construct more blocks in existing prisons, with about 1,000 to 2,000 blocks in prisons across the country,” Yasonna said in Jakarta on Monday.
The government would tender the project soon, so that the construction and renovation could start as soon as possible, the minister said.
“We will prioritize the construction and renovation of prisons [in areas] with high crime rates, such as in North Sumatra. The increase of the number of prisoners in North Sumatra is the highest compared to other provinces,” Yasonna said.
The government will also focus on the improvement of facilities on Nusakambangan prison island because convicts from across the country could be relocated to the facility, he said.
The minister acknowledged that a human resources shortage was also affecting the management of prisons, adding that the government would focus on redistributing prison officers to resolve the issue. (bbn)
