The prison system requires assiduous oversight

As NSW Attorney General Bob Debus noted in 1996: "The kinds of complaints which occur in the system may seem trivial to outsiders but in the superheated world of the prison, such issues can produce explosive results."

NSW: The Sydney Morning Herald also reported:

"The appointment [of an I-G] reflects dissatisfaction within the Government, based on its experience of the prison system in Opposition, concerning the rising number of complaints about the system to the Ombudsman, reports showing increased violence in jails and dissatisfaction with the monitoring of operations at the State's only privately run prison in Junee.

Government sources confirmed yesterday that the appointment would go ahead despite unease within the Department of Corrective Services about the new layer of accountability that the appointment of the inspector-general will force on the department."

...and Peter Breen MP in 2003 added:

"Some issues of prisoners seem trivial by our standards - we often wonder how they can develop and blow up to such an extent that they cause confrontations, and often assaults and serious injuries. A couple of areas cause problems for prisoners.

It is worth noting them in the context of this debate because, in my experience - which is only limited - the I-G has been able to deal with these issues in a way that I believe the Ombudsman has been unable to.

I refer to [Official] visitors - a matter of great concern to prisoners - and to what prisoners term 'buy-ups'...I do not believe the Ombudsman has the same status and rapport with prisoners, with those who represent their interests or with community groups as the I-G."

And regarding Official Visitors during the same debate, John Ryan (Labor) put it in Parliament:

"The value of official visitors is that they have been independent of the department and have been seen as an external agency able to make contact with inmates. Their role would be destroyed if they were to become the responsibility of the directorate...there is no requirement for the Directorate to report to Parliament, and thereby to the public, and its reports remain a closed shop. No one would ever know what was in them or whether they were implemented."

UTS: COMMUNITY LAW CENTRE

The abolition of the Office of the Inspector General of Prisons: Legal Briefing Paper

Acknowledgements

This report was prepared by: Julia Beehag, Adam Fletcher, Violey Foulis, Krishni Goonesna, Lynda Maitland and Vicki Sentas

This report was coordinated by Louise Buchanan between March and August 2004 and by Krishni Goonesena between September and December 2004.

Thanks to Justice Action for providing us with the brief for this paper, including providing the specific details of Ms Timbrell's case.

Special thanks to Simon Moran from the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) for legal advice on the powers and obligations of the NSW Ombudsman.

1. Introduction

This briefing paper was prepared by volunteer law students at the UTS Community Law Centre to provide information for Justice Action on prisoner complaint handling in NSW. We will examine the impact of the abolition of the role of the Office of the Inspector General of Prisons and the transfer of some functions of that role to the NSW Ombudsman.

Initially we provide important background information to the report, which was initiated by a case where a person was denied visiting rights to a prisoner on the grounds of smuggling drugs into the prison. We have concerns about the lack of appeal against such decisions, and shall discuss the international law implications and possible affect on civil liberties.

We then detail the history of the Office of the Inspector General of Prisons (I-G), examine legislation, and identify which of the functions of that Office, were taken up by the NSW Ombudsman. We compare the effectiveness of the I-G to that of the Ombudsman in dealing with prisoner complaints by analysing statistics from annual reports.

We examine legal and policy issues arising from the abolition of the I-G and the challenges faced by the NSW Ombudsman's office in effectively handling prisoner complaints.

Finally we discuss the role and functions of Official Visitors and raise concerns about their independence.

2. Aims of this briefing paper

* To examine the roles of the NSW Ombudsman and the now expired Office of the I-G in relation to dealing with prisoner complaints.

* To conduct a comparative analysis of both the legislation and the practice of the I-G and the Ombudsman, highlighting the strengths and weakness of both models.

* To consider the role of Official Visitors during the existence of the I-G and currently.

* To raise questions and areas that could be the subject of future research.

* To make recommendations for improvements in dealing with prisoner complaints

3. Methodology

There were various research strategies undertaken in preparing this paper:

* We undertook detailed comparative analysis of legislation, regulations and annual reports.

* We made contact with the NSW Ombudsman's office to obtain information about how the new Corrections unit for prisoner complaint handling works in practice.

* We researched the NSW Parliamentary website and Hansard papers.

* We analysed material provided by Justice Action on the Timbrell case and the Dalton Avery review.

* We conducted research of various journal articles on the role of NSW Ombudsman and the prison system.

[Questions: Is it possible or relevant to consider interviewing prisoners to determine their satisfaction with the NSW Ombudsman's complaint handling procedures?]

4. Background

This investigation into the consequences of the abolition of the Office of the NSW Inspector-General of Prisons (I-G) was prompted by the matter of Josephine Timbrell.

Ms Timbrell made a complaint to Justice Action after the Department of Corrective Services (DCS) accused her of bringing 5.1 grams of green vegetable matter into Goulburn Gaol.

This was based on evidence allegedly comprising a cell search and the testimony of the person she visited, Mr Russell Dinan, her fiance.

Mr Dinan denies ever having given such a testimony, and despite the DCS claiming the video was given to the police to investigate further, the Police, when contacted, could not confirm this.

In February 2003 Ms Timbrell was notified by DCS of the ban, effective until 2005, and through Justice Action she complained to the NSW Ombudsman and to the I-G. Ms Trimbrell wanted her rights restored so she can take her young sons to visit his father, at Mannus Correctional Centre, before 2005. We note that both the Ombudsman's Office and the I-G advised her that they could not assist her as she had not exhausted the DCS' internal appeals process.

Ms Timbrell decided that trying to traverse the DCS internal appeals process yet again, after receiving conflicting information from DCS and the Police, as an impossible task. Ms Timbrell's relationship with her fiance has now ended due to the mistrust caused by the allegations that he had made a statement against her. Due to the continuing visitor ban, Ms Timbrell's sons have not seen their father since December 2002 .

4.1 Visitor Bans Generally

The correspondence between Justice Action and the NSW Ombudsman's office highlights some issues that are important, and which require further investigation. For example, the NSW Ombudsman stated that:

"Citizens have no actual rights to visit inmates in correctional centers under the law. It is a privilege granted by individual Governors and the Commissioner whose primary responsibility is to maintain the security and good order of correctional centres.

The Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Act gives Corrective Services staff the power and discretion to restrict or refuse visiting privileges where there are reasonable grounds for believing that the security and good order of correctional centres might be jeopardized by allowing further visits to proceed.

Such decisions are discretionary decisions. The law does not require them to prove any offences before imposing a ban. They only have to form a reasonable opinion that it is necessary"

While the power to restrict or refuse visitor bans is given, in fact, there is no mention in the Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Act 1999 of outright visitor bans. In the Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Regulations 2001, Division 5 deals with General restrictions on Persons who may visit.

Section 103 and 105 state that the Governor or Commissioner may bar persons from visiting prisons if they are of the opinion that the visit would prejudice the good order and security of the prison.

This would appear to be highly discretionary and limit any right of appeal to, or review by, an administrative judicial body. In only requiring the DCS to form an 'opinion' to prove offences, it also appears to limit any right to natural justice.

4.2 Australia's International Obligations

It is possible that the discretionary decisions of the DCS regarding visitation bans could be in contravention of Australia's international obligations under at least two ratified treaties.

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights was ratified in Australia on 13 November 1980. Article 10 states that:

1. All persons deprived of their liberty shall be treated with humanity and with respect for the inherent dignity of the human person.

3. The penitentiary system shall comprise treatment of prisoners the essential aim of which shall be their reformation and social rehabilitation. It is therefore possible to argue that not allowing Ms Timbrell's son to see his father is not treating him with humanity and respect and would not promote his reformation and social rehabilitation.

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights is currently under review by the United Nations.

Convention on the Rights of the Child

The Convention on the Rights of the Child was ratified in Australia on 16 January 1991. Article 3 states that;

1. In all actions concerning children, whether undertaken by public or private social welfare institutions, courts of law, administrative authorities or legislative bodies, the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration.

Article 7 states that:

1. The child shall be registered immediately after birth and shall have the right from birth to a name, the right to acquire a nationality and, as far as possible, the right to know and be cared for by his or her parents.

It would appear that DCS did not have Ms Timbrell's son's best interests in mind when enforcing the visitor ban, and not being able to visit his father would severely impact on his right to know his father.

[Question: Is there information available on possible breaches of Australia's international obligations in relation to visitor bans?]

7.4 Complaints made through Justice Action

Justice Action has received numerous complaints from inmates at the High Risk Management Unit (HRMU) at Goulburn about general conditions affecting inmate health, such as lack of natural light and ventilation. Inmates requested Justice Action act on their behalf in making complaints about these conditions.

To do this, direct authorities were required from the prisoners as the Ombudsman had determined that it 'was not necessary to pursue enquiries on the basis of a complaint from a third party, such as Justice Action" . Correspondence to the prisoners containing the authorities was never received. A written complaint was then made by Justice Action on the 19th December 2003.

Correspondence detailing the outcome of inquiries was not received from the Ombudsman's Office until 21st June 2004, six months later. This issue had still not been finalised as the Commissioner of Corrective Services had "yet to articulate the grounds for his forming the opinion that receipt of the letters was likely to prejudice the good order and security of the correctional centre" .

It was only on the 25th November 2004 that the NSW Ombudsman could write to Justice Action to inform them of the Commissioner's views, a full eleven months after the initial complaint was made.

By the NSW Ombudsman taking an inordinately long period of time to investigate this complaint about authorizations from prisoners, the real issue about conditions at the prison affecting inmate health has been ignored, or at best, sidelined.

Conclusion:

Whilst the Ombudsman's office has had an increase in staffing levels, it appears that this has not translated into a decrease in the time taken to finalise complaints, and in fact, is markedly worse than the complaint finalisation horizon under the I-G.

It is disturbing that such few complaints are formally investigated by the Ombudsman compared to those of the IG, while an increase in funding to the Ombudsman's Office would provide extra staff and improve complaint resolution time. Unfortunately there is no publicly available information on funding given to the Office of the IG or what extra funding has been received by the Ombudsman's office since the expiry of the Office of the I-G.

There is a lack of accountability from DCS in not being required to implement any recommendations of the Ombudsman's office. Also the role of the Ombudsman is too restrictive in not being able to review prisons.

Therefore we recommend that the Corrections team be reviewed after one year of processing prisoner complaints. The review should also include figures on how Official Visitors have contributed to complaint resolution, with the results being tabled in Parliament to determine if prisoner complaints are being appropriately addressed.

The Ombudsman has no similar power to the I-G to investigate or comment on Official Visitor reports (as outlined in page 11). This report should also detail the level and nature of the investigation and conciliation training that the Correctional Services team is given to enable them to handle prisoner complaints.

10. Recommendations

Recommendation 1:

1) That the Office of the I-G be re-instated the training of Official Visitors be undertaken by that Office; or
2) That Official Visitors be trained by the NSW Ombudsman; or
3) That Official Visitors be trained by an independent body.

Recommendation 2:

1) Reinstate of the Office of the I-G inclusive of all legislative provisions; or

2) Amend the Ombudsman Act 1974 (NSW) to include sections equivalent to 213(1)(e), 213(1)(f), 213(1)(g) and 213(1)(m) of the Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Act 1999 (NSW).

Recommendation 3:

1) Reinstate the I-G, or establish a new independent body, or empower an existing independent body to: -make recommendations to the Minister for Justice on ways in which procedure of the DCS can be improved, and -investigate and comment on reports of the Official Visitors and Community Advisory Councils, and -fully implement all of the functions that were covered by the Office of the I-G

Recommendation 4

1) Increase funding of the NSW Ombudsman to expand current staffing of the Corrections Team, to allow for increased investigation of complaints and decrease the time taken to finalise complaints; and

2) Conduct a review of the first year of the NSW Ombudsman's Corrections team, including figures on how Official Visitors have contributed to complaint resolution, with the results being tabled in Parliament to determine if prisoner complaints are being appropriately addressed. This report should also detail the level and nature of the investigation and conciliation training that the Correctional Services team is given to enable them to handle prisoner complaints.

Recommendation 5:

Re-instate Office of Inspector General or an equivalent including in its functions:

1) responsibility for reporting on Official Visitors; and
1) power to report directly to Parliament.

Recommendation 6

1) Legislation, regulations or publicly available policies and guidelines should provide a clear and definitive explanation of the role and functions of Official Visitors.

Recommendation 7:

1) Official Visitor training should be provided by an independent body and not by DCS.

Recommendation 8:

1)Official Visitors should report to the NSW Ombudsman or another independent body.

11. Conclusion

The Office of the Inspector General played an important role in providing not only an effective and timely prisoner complaint handling process, but also a review process that investigated prisons, made recommendations on procedure and oversaw training of, and reports made by, Official Visitors.

The legislative provisions governing the Office of the I-G under the Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Act 1999 remain intact yet are dormant due to the 'sunset' clause which expired the position of the I-G after 1st October 2003. Therefore in theory it would not be difficult to reinstate the Office of the I-G to allow effective complaint handling and prison oversight.

However the political reality of such a revival of the Office is unlikely given the political climate plus the financial cost of re-establishing a bureaucracy that has been so recently dismantled. On this basis, we have made recommendations that are mutually exclusive of that outcome. For example, training of Official Visitors may be carried out by the NSW Ombudsman or another body independent of the DCS. The review functions performed by the I-G could now be legislatively provided for in the Ombudsman Act 1974 or by a new or existing independent body.

With the expiry of the Office of the I-G, most functions performed by that Office have now been assigned in full to the NSW Ombudsman. The Ombudsman has since established a Corrections Unit of five staff that is responsible for handling prisoner complaints. Information should be made publicly available on how much of the I-G budget has been transferred to the Ombudsman and why complaint finalisation times have increased by over two and a half times under the Ombudsman. At the very least, there should be a review conducted of this new team's first year performance that includes information on the training provided to staff in complaints investigation and finalisation as well as how Official Visitors have contributed to complaint resolution.

Official Visitors have been a part of the prison management system in NSW for a very long time. Even so, there is very little publicly available information on the role and functions of Official Visitors. We submit that this information should be detailed in regulations, policies or guidelines. The independence of Official Visitors was assured when they were trained outside the DCS by the Office of the I-G, and it is of great concern that their training has reverted to the Executive Director, Probity and Performance Management, a division of DCS. This arrangement should cease, and training be undertaken by an independent body. Our recommendation is that Official Visitors report directly to the Ombudsman, thereby ensuring independence of the complaints handling.

Effective oversight of prisons is vital not just for maintaining prisoner rights but also for increasing public confidence in the prison system. A mechanism that provides an independent body, ideally the I-G, to report directly to Parliament on how prisons are being run and how procedures can be improved, without the need to defer to the DCS or the Ombudsman would provide this truly transparent and accountable process.

While this paper aims to answer questions about the abolition of the Office of the I-G, it also seeks to raise questions that could form the basis of further research & discussion.

by JusticeACTION Monday January 24, 2005

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This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Junee Prison, NSW Parliament and Noble Cause Corruption

I am writing to you as I have been in segregation for a couple of weeks.

I have had my "C1" minimum-security classification taken off me and replaced with an "A2" special management at Goulburn jail.

I most definitely have not done anything to warrant such punishment.

I have not been charged with any offence. The first thing I knew was when they (the Intel officer) at Junee had me called to reception. I was then told that I was going to segregation for good order and discipline.

I said why? I haven't done anything wrong. I was then told by intelligence officer McCauliffe that I stood over a prisoner to bring drugs in.

I'm after your help because I didn't do it and here at Junee, they (the Intel officers) don't tell you anything. I must tell you that around the 1st or 2nd of July 2003, intelligence officer McCauliffe called me up to reception and asked me about my friend (Mr Phuong Ngo) that was in that weekends newspaper SMH.

He asked did I know of a gang W2K? And I said no he then photographed me for presumably gang tattoos.

At the same time an officer (Lord) was going through my cell and took a number of private letters that had been sent to me by Mr Phuong Ngo. It was done real comical as officer Lord in his haste to please Intel left half the letters in my cell.

I complained immediately to Intel, that I should have been present when this occurred and I had the right to know what was taken and to number the letters. I can tell you that they still have the letters there is nothing in them they're just normal letters.

I am not part of a gang; (they know that). Whilst in segro the I.I.U. came to interview me at the jail. I refused because it was all silly to me.

My area manager came to see me in segro and said that he put in a report to Intel that I was working, no trouble, polite, going to computers. I then said. "And what did intelligence say? And he replied "all a smokescreen."

I've gone from a "C1" Junee to an "A2" Goulburn without any explanation or evidence. Why do I have to go on a management plan? I don't know what to manage.

Its wrong that another prisoner can go to intelligence and tell them what they want to hear and then because they don't like you any more your off.

It was all planned because as soon as I got to reception the intel took urine then had the classification their (Kangaroo Court). I pleaded to be told why.

All intel would say was (standing over) from a "C1" minimum to "A2" maximum It's a bit more than that please help me. I've just worked so hard to get my "C1". I spent six months looking after a paraplegic at Long Bay. I've worked for it then I come to Junee and bang it's all taken. Intelligence is wrong I would not waste your time.

Thanks.

Carr defends prison handling of political PRISONER

Bob Carr should be ashamed of himself after giving the prisons Commissioner Rotten Ron Woodham another filthy job setting up Phuong Ngo as one of the most dangerous prisoners in the State.

DCS: Protection gangs? - Ngo exploited in prison

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By John Doe 28 July 03

THE SNAKE: What do we want? The government to go straight! When do we want it? Now! When the government want to validate the High Risk Management Unit at Goulburn. They validate it by stringing people up. Take a high profile prisoner that was set up by the government in the first place. Then call him one of the most dangerous. Then say he tried to escape.

Then say he has a gang to protect him. Then send the article to SMH. Then send him to HRMU. Then set up the gang that did not exist in the first place. Innocent young lives being manipulated and wasted by whom? Let me tell you his name is not Rotten Ron Woodham. This man's name is Bob Carr.

This is only one part of the Carr Governments constant manipulating (setting up high profile prisoners) to exploit them. Arranging the Noble Cause Corruption to infect many people who are disabled in prisons in New South Wales. Now there is a constant them trust me and should be stopped so these people can get on with their lives making their own mistakes not Bob Carr's.

The more people who are sent to jail with no hope. No light at the end of the tunnel. Mandatory Sentencing the more rational to build more HRMU's. "A box within a box".No fresh air and no sunlight. It is wrong John that the government set you up. It's wrong that Bob Carr thinks the population are stupid. It's wrong that Bob Carr went to Intel.

Not as you have said John "It's wrong that another prisoner can go to Intelligence and tell and tell them what they want to hear." Bob Carr please explain your behaviour towards others who are imprisoned and cannot help themselves with you jumping up and down on their heads? Don't you have enough power and money? What can this prisoner do for you Bob Carr? Your sentence!

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Two thirds of a billion dollars and DCS can't work out what authority they have? "Two thirds of a billion dollars of taxpayers money and the Department of Corrective Services can't work out what authority they have to hold the people who are in jail."

Australia: Private Prisons, Junee NSW
When I got to Junee I was given nothing except bed linen. That's it! No clothing. I had to put my name down for clothing, which they said I could get on Saturday. When I went down to get my clothing on Saturday I was told they had nothing but I was told that I could buy what I wanted on their monthly buy-up. In the mean time I got rashes between my legs from the dirty clothes I had on.

Justice Action meets with new Minister for Justice
John Hatzistergos Minister for Justice is meeting with Brett Collins and Justice Action today at 11:30 a.m.

ARUNTA PHONE SYSTEM: IDC Lithgow Prison
The prisoners of Lithgow Correctional Centre have requested that the Lithgow Inmate Development Committee write to you on their behalf and ask that the phone systems heavy burden upon the prisoners at this institution and their families be reviewed. I will outline the problems.

Health problems denied in prison
Lithgow Correctional Centre (IDC) Inmate Development Committee "Currently there are 72 inmates on the doctors waiting list with only one doctor coming fortnightly and usually on a weekend".

'Old guard dog' dig in heels on NSW Govt front bench - The rolling of the filthy heads... The New South Wales Premier is yet to convince at least one of his long-standing ministers to stand aside to make way for new blood on the front bench.

NSW Prisons Inmate Development Committee speaks out
I am writing on behalf of the IDC Inmate Development Committee in area 3, MSPC at Long Bay. Area 3 is where, the Department is congregating minimum-security offenders within maximum-security walls whilst awaiting mandatory programs at Cubit (Sex Offenders Program).

THE GULAG TREATMENT - The Trauma Of Court Appearances When Incarcerated Prisoner transport vehicle 10th January 2003 It's about 4.40am, very darkoutside and although I'm expecting it, it is still intrusive when my dreams are interrupted by the sound of my name, it is the officer checking that I'm awake ready to face the long day ahead.

Sir David Longland Correctional Centre
If it were possible to characterize the term B Block attitude in a modern dictionary, it would read something like "demeanor of inhabitance" or "state of mind or behaviour of occupants".

SIR DAVID LONGLAND CORRECTIONAL CENTRE QLD - CELLS IN B BLOCK The cells in B Block are like no other in any Queensland prison. After Mr. Cooper was severally embarrassed by the Abbott and Co escape on 4th November 1997, he visited B Block and the surrounding grounds. It was that visit, by Cooper, that set in motion a plan (up the ante) to make sure security in B Block would never embarrass him again. It was like closing the gate after the horse has bolted.

Inspector General Ignored On Womens Prison
Four months after a report from the Inspector General on Mulawa Correctional Centre, key recommendations involving safety and welfare of prisoners and staff have been ignored. Kathryn Armstrong (former chair of Inmate Development Committee) and Annabel Walsh, released from Mulawa Womens Prison in February, have produced an independent report confirming the findings of the Inspector General.

Distribution of: 'How to Votes in prisons'?
Justice Action have received information from Andrew Burke of the NSW Greens that they have enquired with the Department of Corrective Services as to the procedure for distributing their How To Votes in prisons in the period before the election.

Getting Justice Wrong DPP make full admissions
Back in May 2001 Nicholas Cowdery QC made an error at law by giving a speech called Getting Justice Wrong at the University of New England, Armidale Thursday, 31 May 2001. Sir Frank Kitto, Lecture now published at the DPP website. At page six, paragraph 3 under the heading:

NSW ELECTION 2003: VOTE 1 GREENS
Inspector-General: The Greens believe that the role of the Inspector-General is crucial to the proper functioning of the prison system. It has never been more important to have a powerful watchdog role than today. Section 3.11 of our Criminal Justice Policy commits the Greens to "strengthening the role of the Inspector-General of Prisons."

Long Bay Prison: The latest inside story
Private food purchases called Buy-Ups that normally take care of the prisoners additional food nutrition in Jail has been changed.

Doing time even harder: 146 prisoners far from home
The United States, however, has detained without trial about 650 men from 43 countries. They include Australians David Hicks and Mamdouh Habib, who are held at the Guantanamo Bay naval base as part of the sweep against global terrorism [scapegoats for the Coalition of the Killing's, pre-emptive strikes, occupation and genocide for resources in the Middle East.]

Human Rights 'Framed'
Here is a quick report on our Human Rights Commission approach on Framed (the quarterly magazine of Justice Action) being banned from all NSW prisons. After 42 issues went in.

Prison Privatisation: Death camps looming in NSW
I asked for the identification of the person I was speaking to and was told that I was not entitled to that information. I needed to verify the call and asked for a name or number to register my call because I was asked to get those details by my coordinator.The person refused to identify themselves either by name or number. I asked to be transferred to a senior person and was refused. The person I spoke to then hung up the phone.

Justice Action criticises Govt's victim voice policy
Victims are not being properly considered in compensation and no expression is given to them, of community goodwill. A spokesperson for Justice Action Mr Brett Collins said, "No community expression or concern is given to the victims of crime. They feel their pain is not acknowledged by the government which tries to balance pain against pain. Never! The community is being misled."

NSW education professor warns further commitment needed
The author of a report on the New South Wales education system has urged the major political parties to do more for education in the election campaign.

Coalition proposes to exploit children
The Coalition says it would reform juvenile justice in New South Wales to require the courts to "get tough" on juvenile crime.

Corrections Victoria and criminal acts: SCS-4\320 UPDATE
You have stated "Section 30 of the Corrections Act 1986 and the Information Privacy Act 2000, restricts the release of confidential information regarding prisoners, I therefore am unable to provide any information regarding this matter."

Death camps looming in Victoria
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.

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'
A coalition of academics, crime experts, welfare and church groups is preparing to launch an intensive pre-election campaign aimed at refocusing the attention of NSW politicians from harsh sentencing reforms to crime prevention strategies.

Six weeks, six months, six years: inmates have little chance of making fresh start More than 15,500 people are released from NSW prisons each year, twice the number of 20 years ago. But new research shows many ex-prisoners find it impossible to reintegrate into society and, months after release, are worse off than before they went to jail.

Fiona Stanley, the children's crusader
It is all about prevention. As Fiona Stanley sees it, with one in five Australian teenagers experiencing significant mental health problems, there are just not enough treatment services to cope with the demand.

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'
The decision of the Carr government to appoint John Jacob Klok as the new Assistant Commissioner for Corrective Services in charge of security represents a statement of contempt to all those concerned about law and justice in NSW.

How NSW Dept of Corrective Services spent $800,000 dollars to rehabilitate a Sydney man sentenced to life for second murder! A spokesperson for Justice Action Mr Pro Grams said, "Well it's your money, how would you like it spent? And what do you think about rehabilitation on behalf of the Department of Corruptive Services?

Prisoners Representatives Excommunicated
Ron Woodham, Commissioner Corrective Services stated "[this Department] does not recognise Justice Action as an advocate on correctional centre issues." He has ordered a ban on all Justice Action material inside the NSW prison system. This resulted from a request for the approval of the latest edition of Framed (the Magazine of Justice Action) to be distributed throughout NSW prisons as has occurred for the past ten years.

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.

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.

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.

The punishment: Is the 'crime'
The punishment is the crime according to retired chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia Justice Alistair Nicholson. "Smacking a child ought to be seen as assault".

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 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.

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.

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.

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
[Allegedly:] The events that have shaped NSW prisons - from convict days through royal commissions, to the Supermax of today. [I say allegedly because no one should trust Four Corners [Walls], why? Because they spill out the propaganda of the day for the Government, whether it be wrong or right. A government that lies and has no remorse about it.]