NEW INDEPENDENT RISDON PRISON REPORT

Justice Action and Prison Action & Reform are not satisfied with the review and will present an independent report to Parliament in August, based upon interviews with prisoners, prison staff and concerned community members.

Community based criminal justice organisation Justice Action and prison lobby group Prison Action & Reform express disappointment with the recent findings of a government report by former Tasmanian Police Assistant Commissioner Luppo Prins into the recent siege at Risdon Prison in Tasmania.

Spokespersons Caroline Dean and Brett Collins agree the review did nothing to understand the underlying issues that caused the incident nor progress prison reform.

"There was no mention of prisoners and why they felt it necessary to take such drastic action to bring national attention to the inadequate conditions and systemic cultural problems within the Tasmanian prison system", Caroline Dean said. "The Attorney has admitted this situation could reoccur and yet she has done nothing to understand the circumstances surrounding the event. It is clear the department has no real interest in changing the culture of the prison despite their rhetoric."

The Attorney General announced an "...independent review of the events contributing to the hostage incident at Risdon Prison..." on 18 May 2005.

Brett Collins and Caroline Dean said the report was not independent and only focused on bureaucratic and procedural security matters, excluding facts embarrassing to the Government.

Justice Action and Prison Action & Reform are not satisfied with the review and will present an independent report to Parliament in August, based upon interviews with prisoners, prison staff and concerned community members.

By Prison Action and Reform Tasmania and JA 29 July 05

Contacts:

PRISON ACTION & REFORM
Caroline Dean 0439 473 938
Vickie Douglas 0403 401 414

JUSTICE ACTION
Brett Collins 02 9660-9111 0438 705 003

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No Safe Place
In a brief four month span from August 1999, five men died in Tasmania's Risdon prison. Their deaths have put the state's corrections system in the dock and led to the planned demolition of a jail which even the State's Attorney-General now calls an "appalling facility".

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Tasmanian prison support visit

Prisoners from Risdon Prison and Prison Action & Reform (PAR) in Tasmania have requested support from the Australian Prisoners Union and Justice Action following the siege in the prison ending on May 9.

"Prisoners and prison officers have had their lives put at risk in the siege. It appears that communication channels have been neglected in the Tasmanian Corrective Services Division" said Mr Collins of the Australian Prisoners Union.

"Communication appears to be the problem. We have found that with mutual respect and community access, prison systems function better. That improves prisoners' chances of survival and a safer community when they are released." said Mr Collins.

A delegation has travelled to Hobart to meet with groups and will talk with prisoners, their families and the administration to assist in lowering the tension in the system. They attended Risdon Prison last Sunday May 22 at 10am.

For comments:
Brett Collins 0438 705003
Kat Armstrong 0428 312035

By Justice Action posted 24 May 05

Related:

Prison Action & Reform challenge the Attorney General
Members of Prison Action & Reform are furious with the latest lies from the Attorney General -- Judy Jackson, and demand that she produce evidence to support her ludicrous claims.

Tasmania PAR banned from Risdon
Since then, she and other PAR volunteers, have brought to the public's attention scandalous and inhumane events that have occurred in the prison - which Judy Jackson would have otherwise covered up.

Chronology of a Tasmanian Prison System: A Documented Report
We believe that the people of Tasmania - both victims of crime and the general public - have the right to know that the Tasmania Prison Service is delivering a humane and just system of containment that is conducive to the reintegration of inmates back into Tasmanian society.

Risdon prisoners' seize prison to protest mistreatment
Apparently one prisoner had been mistreated and held in isolation in an SHU (Segregation Housing Unit) [Solitary Confinement] because, he'd had and altercation with a screw. SHUs cause severe mental harm - regarded as torture - and are a cruel, inhumane and degrading way to keep prisoners.

No Safe Place
In a brief four month span from August 1999, five men died in Tasmania's Risdon prison. Their deaths have put the state's corrections system in the dock and led to the planned demolition of a jail which even the State's Attorney-General now calls an "appalling facility".

Association for the Prevention of Torture
The Optional Protocol requires 20 ratifications to enter into force. All States Parties to the UN Convention against Torture should seriously consider ratifying the OPCAT as soon as possible. National Institutions and others promoting the human rights of people deprived of their liberty need to be informed of their potential role as national preventive mechanisms under the OPCAT.

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Tasmania PAR banned from Risdon

Risdon Prison Near Hobart

Prison Action & Reform (Tasmania)

PRISON ACTION AND REFORM REPRESENTATIVES, ALONG WITH LAWYER AND POLITICAL COMMENTATOR GREG BARNS, WILL BE COMMENTING ON THE DECISION BY JUDY JACKSON TO BAN PAR FROM RISDON PRISON AT 3PM TODAY OUTSIDE PARLIAMENT HOUSE.

Vickie Douglas founded Prison Action and Reform after the gross failures of the system took the life of her young son after he was raped.

Since then, she and other PAR volunteers, have brought to the public's attention scandalous and inhumane events that have occurred in the prison - which Judy Jackson would have otherwise covered up.

Prison Action and Reform advocates on the behalf of prison officers and prisoners in the interests of a just justice system.

Today they have been banned from the jail.

This decision will have a devastating impact.

PAR and Greg Barns will be commenting on this decision at 3pm today outside Parliament House.

By Prisoners Action and Reform posted 18 May 05

Related:

Chronology of a Tasmanian Prison System: A Documented Report
We believe that the people of Tasmania - both victims of crime and the general public - have the right to know that the Tasmania Prison Service is delivering a humane and just system of containment that is conducive to the reintegration of inmates back into Tasmanian society.

Risdon prisoners' seize prison to protest mistreatment
Apparently one prisoner had been mistreated and held in isolation in an SHU (Segregation Housing Unit) [Solitary Confinement] because, he'd had and altercation with a screw. SHUs cause severe mental harm - regarded as torture - and are a cruel, inhumane and degrading way to keep prisoners.

No Safe Place
In a brief four month span from August 1999, five men died in Tasmania's Risdon prison. Their deaths have put the state's corrections system in the dock and led to the planned demolition of a jail which even the State's Attorney-General now calls an "appalling facility".

Association for the Prevention of Torture
The Optional Protocol requires 20 ratifications to enter into force. All States Parties to the UN Convention against Torture should seriously consider ratifying the OPCAT as soon as possible. National Institutions and others promoting the human rights of people deprived of their liberty need to be informed of their potential role as national preventive mechanisms under the OPCAT.

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Apparently one prisoner had been mistreated and held in isolation in an SHU (Segregation Housing Unit) [Solitary Confinement] because, he'd had and altercation with a screw. SHUs cause severe mental harm - regarded as torture - and are a cruel, inhumane and degrading way to keep prisoners.

No Safe Place

In a brief four month span from August 1999, five men died in Tasmania's Risdon prison. Their deaths have put the state's corrections system in the dock and led to the planned demolition of a jail which even the State's Attorney-General now calls an "appalling facility".

Prisoners at Hobart's Risdon prison say they have taken over the jail and are holding 10 guards hostage.

A prisoner, who says he is Conway Richardson, called the ABC claiming he was in the reception area with other prisoners after taking over the area this afternoon

The caller said most prisoners' were in the main yard of the jail and had taken about 10 screws hostage.

He said prisoners wanted Tasmanian Attorney-General Judy Jackson sacked and opposition justice spokesman Michael Hodgman to attend the prison.

"We want to get the point across - if they want to come in and gas us and all that, they're stupid to their own hostages - they've got their own kind in here," said, Mr Richardson.

Asked if the prisoners were armed, he said, "I don't have to tell you if I'm armed or not".

"We're here in prison because some of us have committed a crime but the Department of Corrective Services commits crimes against us everyday," prisoner Richardson said.

(Photo) Risdon Prison Tasmania

By Just Us 7 May 05

Related:

No Safe Place
In a brief four month span from August 1999, five men died in Tasmania's Risdon prison. Their deaths have put the state's corrections system in the dock and led to the planned demolition of a jail which even the State's Attorney-General now calls an "appalling facility".

Association for the Prevention of Torture
The Optional Protocol requires 20 ratifications to enter into force. All States Parties to the UN Convention against Torture should seriously consider ratifying the OPCAT as soon as possible. National Institutions and others promoting the human rights of people deprived of their liberty need to be informed of their potential role as national preventive mechanisms under the OPCAT.

Corrected or Corrupted
A psychiatrist from the prison Mental Health Team attached to Queensland Health made the comment that 25 per cent of inmates suffer from a diagnosed mental illness.

ICOPA XI International Conference on Penal Abolition
We are excited to announce that ICOPA X1, the eleventh International Conference on Penal Abolition will happen in Tasmania, Australia from February 9 - 11,2006. Please pass this onto all networks.

Ex-Prisoner Locked Out of Prison
The NSW Department of Corrective Services (DCS) has revealed a policy which bans ex-prisoners from entering prisons.

Justice Action: Access to our community
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Hayes Prison Farm

There is a problem...let's get to the bottom of it... fix it and move forward

Tasmania: Prison Action & Reform believes the management practices at the minimum security facility, Hayes Prison Farm need to be overhauled.

"Since late January there have been eight escapes and the question we need to ask is why? A pattern has developed here - one or two escapes may indicate a personal problem but eight indicates a deeper systemic problem." Caroline Dean, President of Prison Action and Reform said.

"Why have eight prisoners escaping and a lot of questions. Some had little time left to serve on their sentences and have now added custodial time to their sentence; they have lost their minimum security status; lost eligibility for parole; know that they will be moved back to Risdon Maximum security prison; and have an escape on their record. But perhaps the most important question to ask is, why have they chosen to escape now? What do all these factors have in common and what is the pattern indicating? Clearly this pattern is not indicating that this is just a case of a few people reacting negatively to news from home but a more concerning and complex problem."

Yesterday, Director of Prisons Graeme Barber, called for an immediate review into the prisoner's classification system.

Prison Action & Reform does not see this as the whole solution and the issue of overcrowding within the prison system must have an impact across the whole system including Hayes.

"The problem is more complex and deserves a more complex and thorough response. The investigation must include the issue of overcrowding and the classification system but also how prisoner's sentences are managed. In other words, an examination of the management practices of the farm." Caroline Dean said.

"If the State government is as interested in prison reform as they say they are, then this is the time to put their money where their collective mouth is. The community has listened to the rhetoric of prison reform and the ever present chant that the new prison will fix everything, but here is a classic problem that indicates structural and cultural problems. A new prison is not going to be able to fix that. This problem demands a systemic response."

Penal reform demands a multi-focus and constructive approach from all political parties and the community.

"It is easy for the Opposition to focus on gaining political mileage at the expense of good penal practice. It is not helpful to have a negative focus that blames prisoners for this problem. Prisoners do not have any legitimate platform within the prison system to disagree with decisions that are taken about them. This is not about individual prisoners escaping but why they are escaping. The Opposition would do well to demand an extensive investigation that uncovered the complexity of the problem and provided systemic solutions."

Prison Action & Reform over the last few years have seen the solutions to systemic problems within the prison system often resulting in punitive responses that directly and immediately impact on prisoners while the real problems go unresolved.

"Punitive responses have a direct impact on the community. These practices don't allow for a rehabilitative focus and instead contribute to creating more damaged people leaving the prison system. Ultimately the community pays the price through higher re-offending rates and less safe communities".

"We urge the State Government to get to the bottom of this problem. The problem demands a well thought out and constructive response."

Contact:
Caroline Dean - 62 280292 - 0403 473 938
Vickie Douglas - 62 271420 - 0403 401 414

By PAR posted 8 March 05

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Mark Findlay argues that the present psychological approach to prison programs is increasing the likelihood of re-offending and the threat to community safety.