Thursday, May 1, 2003

Carr's Castle the real story H.R.M.U.The High Risk Management Unit Goulburn Correctional Centre

The Australian Institute of Criminology's Standard Guidelines for Corrections in Australia - 1996 just don't cover the Goulburn HRMU according to Mr Ron Woodham Commissioner of Corrective Services. The High Risk Management Unit (HRMU) is the centrepiece of a major $22M redevelopment of Goulburn Correctional Centre.

You can't see a doctor for six months is one of the complaints.

A prisoner writes, " I was unsuccessful in my letters to Dr Matthews CEO of the Corrections Health Service on my problem regarding air - claustrophobic effect the cells have on me. Just recently the management decided my injuries are not seriously affecting me so no further discussions are necessary.

They are fairly confident in their own assessment as they know every attempt I had previously made to Matthews and other relevant authorities about the matter were dismissed and that is that. In the meantime I still quite often have great moments of anxiety and feel no air and choke-up and get quite bewildered in my attempts to overcome the problem.

This place is purposely built as a basic box in a box. Once our back door is closed there is no natural ventilation and no natural light. The guidelines I read of are not included in 'Carr's Castle' design, and in reality this place is poorly designed and difficult for everyone, prisoners and management.

Management bought it up themselves as each new rule generally cuts across an old rule. I am not concerned about the purpose of the place, but I am about the panic attacks I get in here because it is a straight out box. As I have other issues going on as well I feel some people will confuse those issues and my actions. The lack of air in cells or claustrophobia are both related to it's a box and once I feel the walls closing in and I realise there is no air, no openings- yet I can see air and know its out-side the door and that is what causes me to panic as I know I can't get to it."

"In other units the ASU or MPU I could always get to the grille and breathe in fresh air and after a few minutes I would feel better, in here one cannot do this."

The wife of a prisoner who is now on a hunger strike writes to Justice Action, "I would like to state that I believe that the degree of punishment "D" has received is very severe. Whilst being housed in the H.M.R.U. "D" has been threatened bashed and told by an officer "how would you like to be found hanging in your cell." "D" has made a statements regarding these incidents but has never been informed of any action taken regarding these events."

"I myself have tried five times to speak to the governor at Goulburn in relation to these events and have been unable to speak to him and I am still waiting for him to return my calls. "D" went into custody as a young offender and whilst in the departments custody has never been treated in such a manner despite the sentencing judges recommendations for the department to do so. I fear for "D" health and safety whilst housed at H.M.R.U. as "D" has expressed his concerns to me."

THE PRISONER: Standard Guidelines for Corrections in Australian were. That is, before 'Carr's Castle' (were) as follows:

SECTION 1 - Guiding Principles
1.2 Correctional programs are by the deprivation of liberty to varying degrees, a punishment in themselves. Therefore correctional programs must not, except as incidental to the maintenance of discipline or justifiable segregation, aggravate the suffering inherent in such a situation.

Inspection and Community Involvement
3.1 Each Administering Department must establish a set of clear guidelines for the operation of prisons and community corrections centres, and the management of prisoners and offenders. An inspectorial or review system must be established by each Administering Department to ensure these guidelines are administered in each prison and community correction centre.

Requests and Complaints
3.21 Every offender and prisoner must have the opportunity of making requests or complaints to the designated authorities, including Official Visitors and members of any Aboriginal Visitors Scheme or similar body.
3.22 Every offender and prisoner must have the right to make complaints under confidential cover to persons authorised either under legislation or by the Administering Department.
3.23 All officers must promptly reply to and deal with every request or complaint addressed or referred to them.

Use of Force
5.40 A prison officer may, where necessary, use reasonable force to compel a prisoner to obey a lawful order given by the prison officer. Where such force is used the prison officer must report the fact to the Manager of the prison.

Health Services
5.66 For every prison, the services of at least one qualified medical officer must be available twenty-four hours a day. This service may be on an on-call or standby basis. Medical services should be organised in close relationship with the general health administration in the community and must include access to a psychiatric service for the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorder.

Accommodation
5.23 In new prisons, accommodation should generally be provided in single cells or rooms. Provision may be made however, for multiple cell accommodation for the management of particular prisoners.
5.24 Existing dormitories should only be occupied by prisoners who are suited to them.
5.25 All accommodation provided for the use of prisoners should meet all requirements of health. Due regard must be paid to climatic conditions and particularly to cubic content of air, floor space, lighting, heating and ventilation.
5.26 In all places where prisoners are required to live or work:
* the windows should be large enough to enable the prisoners to read or work by natural light, and should be constructed in such a way that they allow entrance of fresh air except where there is artificial ventilation;
* artificial light should be provided to enable prisoners to read or work without injury to eyesight.
5.27 Toilet and sanitary facilities must be provided for prisoners to use as required, and these must be kept in a clean condition.
5.28 Adequate bathing and shower installations must be provided to enable every prisoner to maintain general hygiene by bathing or showering at a temperature suitable for the climate.
5.29 All parts of a prison should be properly maintained and kept clean at all times.

By Guantanamo Bay 1 May 03

Related:

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Health problems denied in prison
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Sir David Longland Correctional Centre
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Corrections Victoria and criminal acts: SCS-4\320 UPDATE
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Fiona Stanley, the children's crusader
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Just wipe your arse on Ivan again Minister?
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Black Nexus
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Prison Mind Games-Do they exist?
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The Government is likely to abolish the Inspector General of Corrective Services position The Mulawa inspection report recommendations below strictly illustrate how important he is.

Chronology - A History of Australian Prisons
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