New Year's in prison just another night

Prisoners can expect no special millennium treatment - the Corrections Department says it will be business as usual behind bars on New Year's Eve.

Department spokeswoman Katrina Casey said no special events were planned for inmates.

Most prisons would hold family days early in the New Year.

She said the department had asked staff to volunteer to work over the New Year period.

They would get no extra payment, but rosters would be arranged so the staff could have time with their families.

Meanwhile, the department said its Y2K compliance measures were completed this month. Katrina Casey said assessment of the risks in non-computer-related areas indicated that there was generally little reliance on technology within jails.

Manual procedures were frequently used. For example, all prison doors were operated manually.

She said a State Services Commission audit gave the department 4.7 out of 5 for its Y2K project.