Conditions inside the Alice Springs Correctional Centre have been described by a guard and outreach services as "inhumane" and dangerous as summer approaches.

A correctional officer at the Alice Springs prison, who wishes to remain anonymous, said overcrowding, lack of appropriate cooling and staff shortages were putting the lives of staff and prisoners at risk.

They said prisoners were crammed into dorms that were originally built for about eight people but have been retroactively refitted to house double that capacity.

"We've had more than 17 in there depending on housing needs,"

they said.

"We had to increase numbers in dorms, but the infrastructure in the dorms hasn't increased.

"They've added bunk beds, but there's still only two toilets and two showers per dorm for 17 people."

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