A letter was received on 15 January 03 from SCS-4\320 a remand prisoner in Victoria's Barwon Prison I later found out that the prisoner was in the Acacia High Security Unit. SCS-4\320 wrote thus "I have not eaten since 8 January 03 at 8:30 PM".
I am always concerned about receiving mail like this because it brings back memories for me about the last straw in custody.
I too had to resolve issues in jail, a place where it seemed that there was no dialog and little if any mercy to be found. The result for me is that two symbols now dominate the root of my empathy for others and they are the Heart and the Star. The stars are my brothers and sisters and the heart is mercy for them all.
The prisoner writes, "I've been held in virtual solitary confinement with a minimum of 23 hours in a cell. I'm only allowed 1 box visit for an hour per week. When I inquire as to why I'm being treated in this matter. I'm responded with it's a directive from Corrections Commissioner Mr. Roach.
I have since been held in prison and as I have not breached any prison regulations. I am presently on a Hunger Strike in protest of my treatment. As remand prisoners are not deemed to be held for punishment, merely in a means to present them to courts. I have not eaten since 8 January 03 at 8:30pm because of my treatment.
I was set up by police on 10 August 2000 by way of planting drugs at my premises. I proclaimed my innocents to legal representatives, Ethical Standards Department and Ombudsman. All to no-avail. "
As a caseworker at Justice Action I have a responsibility to follow these matters up. When I received the letter from the prisoner on 22 January 03, I contacted Mr Bernie Clements Governor at Barwon Prison. He stated, "The prisoner was at court today and that he did not look like he was on a hunger strike."
I was told to contact Mr Stephen Bachelor his wing officer tomorrow to confirm that the prisoner was still in prison. I ask why the prisoner was in solitary confinement? Mr Clements, "He is in Segregation not solitary confinement."
[Which is the same but only the name has changed.]
I was told to contact Mr Kelvin Anderson Commissioner and ask him why the prisoner is being segregated [solitary confinement] on remand? And why the only staff I was offered, who could give me an answer about the prisoner's treatment was custodial or programs staff, because there was no Welfare Staff in the Jail.
Why is there no welfare staff? Clearly program staff and custodial staff can be influenced by "Directives". In this situation one requires independent analysis.
Alarm bells rang. Kelvin Anderson's office did not answer the fax although they rang Justice Action to confirm that they had in fact received the fax. I spoke to Andria.
This new idea by government departments not answering reasonable requests are offensive and dangerous. Our request for answers fell on deaf ears.
Public Servants are there to serve and Commissioner Anderson has not offered any accountability or taken any responsibility in relation to his lack of transparency.
Shortly thereafter I was informed that men's prisons in Victoria don't have an independent Welfare Officer. Perhaps that goes hand in hand with no responsible answers from Kelvin Anderson.
I would have preferred at the very least a written letter from the prisoner telling me that he has resolved his problem and is no longer on a hunger strike. When people lack information and understanding about their predicament they lose faith and take drastic action because of the trauma they are suffering.
Black Nexus
The Separation of Powers Doctrine is nowcontaminated witharangeofcolours, now leaving us with a black shirt on a once blue bridge that crossed that thin blue line. The 'Amery and Woodham show'.
Prison Mind Games-Do they exist?
Directives are given inside the prison system that are not consistent with the law in NSW. And not in the good interests of the health and well being of the prisoners.
By Noone Knows Yet 4 February 03
THE EGG: Can somebody in Victoria talk to SCS-4\320? Remains to be seen. Why is a remand prisoner in solitary confinement? Did police ensure this to cover up their alleged planting of drugs on the accused premises? Perhaps so! Solitary confinement is used to blacken the names of people framed for crimes by police in NSW!
Related:
Jail search finds knives, syringes
Mr Brett Collins a spokesperson for Justice Action said, "It shows there is a lot of desperation in the prison system at the moment and has been for some time."
Take crime talk beyond the bars:'lobby group'
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Fiona Stanley, the children's crusader
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Attempted thong theft costs $560
A man has been fined $500 after appearing in a northern New South Wales court charged with stealing a pair of thongs.
NSW A-G moves to stop criminals and ex-criminals selling stories
From next month criminals or ex-criminals who try to profit (earn a living for paid work, like writing a book etc..) from their crimes in New South Wales will have the proceeds confiscated.
NSW Govt criticised over criminal justice record
Key criminal justice groups have described the New South Wales Government's record on justice issues as a "disappointing performance".
APPOINTMENT OF KLOK IS: 'DECLARATION OF WAR'
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Prisoners Representatives Excommunicated
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Academic devises scheme for low income earners to pay back fines:
A professor at the Australian National University [another one of John Howard's hand picked losers like Peter Saunders the social services head-kicker has come up with a scheme which could see low income earners pay back criminal fines over a period of time.
Dept of Corrective Services: Rotten Ron Woodham on the ropes
This is The Freeedom Of Speech and The Press in a goldfish-bowl! Herr Goebells has spoken. Zieg Heil! (Which means, actually: "aim-for health!" incidentally)Apologies for not making meetings ... my first experiences with Woodham (then a -screw-gestapo-minor-with-a-friendly-dog - AND YOU KNOW WHAT IT MEANS WHEN EVEN HIS DOG DOESN`T LIKE HIM?)
At the Minister's Pleasure The case of Michael Kelly
Michael is caught up in a particularly cruel version of the game of Cat and Mouse. Because he is classified as a forensic patient under the Mental Heath Act of NSW, the Minister for Health is his master, not the Minister for Corrective Services. And the Minister for health will not let him go.
EX-PRISONER UNEMPLOYMENT: SENTENCED FOR LIFE
Name removed by request served time in prison decades ago. Shes still being punished today. According to commonwealth and state legislation, ex-prisoners applying for jobs must declare any conviction that fits into the following categories: less than 10 years old, more than 10 years old but served more than 30 months in prison.
ARE YOU INNOCENT?
The Australian Law Reform Commission had recommended that the Innocence Panel be independent and have the power to investigate alleged miscarriages of justice.
NSW Department of Corrective Services attack right to privacy
Corrective Services Minister Richard Amery has a problem attacking prisoners right to privacy.It seems to us that a civil society is best served when social justice laws are applied to all people regardless of their circumstances. Once government starts making exceptions which disadvantage certain groups and individuals, such laws are meaningless.
Litigants are drowning: in the High Court
There were so many self represented litigants appearing in the High Court that more than half of its registry staff's time was taken up in dealing with them. The "go it alone" litigants have to take on tasks well above their qualified league causing them stress. This growing problem cannot be left unchecked.
Everyone wants to get out of 'jail' but 'Framed' wants life: Rotten Ron on the ropes On 2 May 2002, Justice Action received a faxed letter from Manager of DCS Operations Support Branch saying that, in his view, articles in Framed edition #42 'lack balance and integrity' and he is therefore 'not prepared to recommend this issue of Framed for placement in to correctional centre libraries.' Prisoners and those concerned about prisoner issues have very few sources of information.
Methadone addicts formed within: 'NSW Prisons'
The New South Wales Opposition has accused the State Government of turning jailed heroin users into Methadone addicts.
Murder charge first for DNA data bank link, but not the same as solving the murder Mass DNA testing of prisoners has [allegedly] led to the first NSW case of a person being charged with a previously unsolved murder as a result of a controversial gene-matching data bank.
Medical Records: Alex Mitchell's lost world
Perhaps we can get your medical report and spew it around publicly so you can see how it feels. But surely we do not have to go that far. And of course we are law-abiding citizens and I should think it would be enough to remind you of your ethics to report at all.
Prisoners can prove innocence for $20?
Les Kennedy Daily Telegraph reported today that" Prisoners who believe that DNA will prove they were wrongly convicted will have the chance to prove their innocence for a mere $20 administration fee. The move comes 20 months after NSW inmates were asked to provide DNA for comparison with a databank of DNA from unsolved crime scenes for possible convictions.
NSW opposition pledges review of detention laws
A spokesperson for Justice Action Ms Anal Advice said " NSW Prisons are a sex offence if you have been raped, bashed and squatted down to be strip searched. People should be diverted from going there at all material times".
Civil libertarians condemn planned changes to prisoners' privacy rights The New South Wales Government is using a recent case involving [framed] serial killer Ivan Milat to justify its decision to remove the privacy rights of prisoners. But really just another attack on Ivan Milat from Parliament House.
RESTORING TRUE JUSTICE:
Australian prisons are fast becoming the new asylums of the third millennium. The prison industry is booming, while Australia spends far less on mental health services than similar countries.
The punishment: Is the 'crime'
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Mr. & Mrs. Mandatory Sentencing
Well congratulations to the bride and groom. Could you please be upstanding and raise your glasses for Mr. And Mrs. Mandatory.
Just wipe your arse on Ivan again Minister?
Mr Amery Minister for Corrective services has a problem with finding a toilet roll to wipe his bottom. Justice Action is appalled at the attacks by Amery and others in parliament on Ivan Milat's right to privacy and their attacks on the Privacy Commissioner and his office.
NSW prisons - primary industry bailed up!
In many quiet regional centres around NSW there is a new primary industry shaping up. It has something to do with Bail but not with bales. The minister for Agriculture Richard Amery who also has the prisons portfolio is now committed to farming prisoners.
NSW Parliament Bitter Pills To Swallow?
One delusion pill: So people who investigate their own mistakes make sure there was no mistake or someone else made the mistake. Perhaps you're not biased and you will be honest about it.
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.
Black Nexus
The Separation of Powers Doctrine is nowcontaminated witharangeofcolours, now leaving us with a black shirt on a once blue bridge that crossed that thin blue line. The 'Amery and Woodham show'.
Prison Mind Games-Do they exist?
Directives are given inside the prison system that are not consistent with the law in NSW. And not in the good interests of the health and well being of the prisoners.
