Government is "exercising its options'' as it searches for a solution to overcrowding at the Island's two adult male prisons.

Prison officials meanwhile are hoping for a solution by the end of the week.

Government representatives, Commissioner of Prisons Edward Dyer and Prison Officers Association members met yesterday morning to discuss the overcrowding problem, which has been partly caused by the courts imprisoning people for not paying their fines or child support bills.

A Prison Officer Association spokesman said they were hoping for some news by the end of the week.

Home Affairs Permanent Secretary Robert Horton confirmed meetings were going on yesterday.

"We met at length to discuss the difficulties. We have briefed the Prison Officers Association. Hopefully within the new few days we will come up with some kind of satisfactory resolution,'' he said.

He would not be drawn on what the outcome would be.

Acting Home Affairs Minister Renee Webb said the 208-bed Westgate Correctional Facility had 223 prisoners within its walls. Of that number, 32 are men who have defaulted on child support payments.

Ms Webb said: "We're looking at a situation of overcrowding and we're looking at some alternatives.

"What is happening is there are civils (inmates) for civil offences for failing to pay child support,'' she continued, "and as a consequence, that's the cause of the overcrowding. We're looking at ways of alleviating that.

Nothing is concrete right now.'' When asked if Government's options included releasing some low-risk prisoners, Ms Webb responded: "We're looking at all our options. Literally all our options.

"Obviously this is causing some strain on the prison structure. That 223 is higher than usual,'' she continued, "but that is a consequence of so many of them not paying child support, which is really a pity.

"Some will be in there short term and some will be long term. Clearly the courts, like Mr. (Carlisle) Greaves in the Family Court, are doing their job and we will have to look at how we accommodate them.'' This summer Mr. Greaves responded to his critics, saying the men are not civil cases but are actually criminals who defy a court order.

Government seeks solution to overpopulated prisons Mr. Greaves said failure to pay "child support is not a civil matter'' for which there is a criminal penalty, adding that it was actually "un-civil''.

In another interview, he said he had taken "lashes in the media'' for imprisoning men for non-payment, but said he had been hired to do something about the millions of dollars owed to Government in child-support arrears.

At the time of the controversy in July, eight of 208 prisoners at Westgate were there for non-payment of child support.

Some of the extra inmates are in as a result of a court purge on fine dodgers.

Magistrates are ploughing through a mountain of warrants for non-payment of fines and are dishing out jail time to those who have made no attempt to clear their debts.

At present, one or two people a day are ending up in Westgate after appearing before magistrates for fine defaults. And the crackdown shows no sign of letting up.

On Tuesday night, acting Senior Magistrate Ed King oversaw a traffic offences court until 6 p.m., clearing dozens of outstanding traffic cases.

Courts manager Tracy Kelly said up to 20 people a day are being sent from court to Hamilton Police station for outstanding fines. Only a few are jailed as the threat of prison ensures they pay up by the end of the day.

"Both Mr. King and Mr. Warner are serious about it,'' he said. "It started during the early part of the year. A lot are going for non-payment of fines, people just aren't paying.'' Mr. Kelly said it was mostly the larger fines that people were being jailed for. A new fixed $1,000 penalty for having no insurance is having a big effect, he added.

Mr. Horton paid tribute to the hard work of the officers who have been dealing with the overcrowding.

"I wish to commend them, particularly those up at Westgate, for carrying on in difficult circumstances, we really are most grateful.'' Prison officers have been clocking up hours of overtime as they look after a full prison.

In July the officers threatened industrial action but backed down after talking to Ministry officials.

During that time officers had complained about under-staffing, Ministry slowness in making promotion decisions, security measures, lack of an emergency response team, and worsening conditions inside Westgate.

Mr. Dyer did not return calls last night.