A prison reformer says the Government's crime policies are putting young Maori prisoners at risk from those serving long sentences.
Kim Workman from Rethinking Crime and Punishment says an increasing number of prisoners have nothing to lose if they assault another inmate.
He told Waatea News: "You get this situation where inevitably people decide to manufacture or buy weapons to defend themselves and that creates violence that tends to perpetuate itself."
Mr Workman said community work should be used to keep minor offenders out of prison.
