An advocacy group for prisoners and their families has backed the Greens call to close down Ashley Youth Detention Centre in the wake of incident at the facility on Friday.
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Prisoners Legal Service of Tasmania chair Greg Barns said the centre was a totally inappropriate setting for young offenders in the 21st century.
"It is an isolated facility where there are long periods of boredom, lack of good therapeutic rehabilitation services and lack of access to families and support."
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He said the facility doesn't work and the offenders should be housed in urban centres close to family support and rehabilitation services.
"They emerge more violent and they end up in Risdon prison, they commit more crimes, Mr Barns said.
"Community safety is not well served by the current system."
Mr Barns said Ashley should be closed.
"It has been recommended for closure by an expert report ... it is extraordinary that it remains open," he said.
Labor spokesperson for youth affairs Josh Willie said they did not support closing the centre but does support a change in approach.
"It's not Labor policy to close Ashley but it is time for Tasmania to have a conversation about its approach to youth detention," he said.
"It takes a huge proportion of the youth justice budget and there needs to be more of a focus on therapeutic and restorative justice."
Premier Peter Gutwein said the latest incident would be closely reviewed.
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