Prisoners could pay some of their earnings to a victim compensation fund under new Premier Paula Cox's plan for Bermuda.

As she prepares to set out her vision in her first Throne Speech today, a document has been shared laying out her wide-ranging intentions, including in the areas of justice and corrections.

In addition to legislation allowing inmates to contribute to compensating their victims, further legislation could allow them to contribute to Government for their upkeep.

There are around 200 inmates in Westgate, with added pressure being placed on the justice and corrections system due to escalating gun crime.

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Board which exists to help victims was funded by Government to the tune of $400,000 this year.

Ms Cox's plans also include a review of the Legal Aid legislation that allows defendants to have their lawyer's bills paid by Government if they can't afford it themselves.

Legal Aid lawyers receive $300 per hour for Magistrates' Court work and more for Supreme Court work. In March, The Royal Gazette reported the Legal Aid department had run out of money, and suspended payments to defence lawyers until the next budget year begins on April 1.

It's believed an increased crime rate and struggling economy led to more payouts this year, with added pressure stemming from multi-defendant trials.

The Legal Aid department budget for 2009/10 and 2010/11 was $2.3 million, down from the $2.9 million allocated in 2008/9.

Ms Cox's plan says her Government would "review the Legal Aid legislation and regulations and the existing level of entitlements where [there is] no threat to life and liberty".

She also moots the prospect of a plan to "provide effective service delivery of courses and treatment" and "require that inmates participate in certain programmes before release."

Newly-appointed Justice Minister Michael Scott revealed this week that he wants to increase the focus on crime prevention and rehabilitation through measures including counselling [see story, Page 6].

Ms Cox also wants to assess the idea of a mandatory probation period for those who have been released from prison after violent and sexual crimes. This, she feels, would "mitigate the risk of repeat offences and risks to the public".

The current sex offender provisions have come under fire in recent years, with criticisms that there have not been enough staff to run counselling at Westgate, and the sex offenders register designed to supervise and monitor them has lain dormant since being created nine years ago.