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Tasmania’s correctional service operated an “unsanctioned” punishment regime within one of its high security units, the state’s prisons watchdog says.
The revelation was included in Custodial Inspector Richard Connock’s latest annual report, which identified several breaches of international standards, and other issues of concern.
Mr Connock said his inspection team was alerted to the “Hostile Management Regime” by a teenager being held in the high security unit, known as Tamar, at the Risdon Prison Complex.
“The teenager spoke about having their mattress taken away from them for days and only having two canvas blankets,” Mr Connock said.
“There were no personal items allowed in the cell“.
“They said they had to lie face down on the ground with their hands behind their back before their cell door was opened.”
The Tamar unit is used by the Tasmanian Prison Service (TPS) to house inmates identified as being a high risk to safety, security, and order, such as those who assault fellow prisoners.
“They are separated from other people in custody as a punishment or for the good order and safety of the prison,” Mr Connock said.
Following Mr Connock’s enquiries about the teenager’s treatment, the TPS acknowledged the regime had been operating outside of its own rules.
“It confirmed there was a Hostile Management Regime but advised that it was an unsanctioned practice that was contrary to its policies and procedures,” Mr Connock said.
“TPS advised us that the use of the regime was stopped following us raising it.”
Mr Connock encouraged people with knowledge of the regime, including staff and people in custody, to contact his office.
“We will be reviewing this issue as it raised potential human rights concerns.”
‘Collective punishment’ and excessive lockdowns
Mr Connock’s report also said inmates were regularly being subjected to excessive lockdowns and a “disturbingly low” amount of time outside their cells.
Prisoners were supposed to get between eight and nine hours out of their cells each day, but were only getting an average of about half that amount.
That was because they were often being placed in lockdowns for multiple days, contrary to the Corrections Act and international standards, he said.
“We have consistently heard from both prisoners and staff of the damaging psychological and physical impacts of these lockdowns“.
“A particularly troubling aspect of lockdowns is that people in [Risdon Prison] cannot call their family and friends when they are locked in their unit or cell.”
In one case, Mr Connock said 23 high security inmates were placed in lockdown for a day because some of them had made sexist remarks towards female correctional officers.
He said it was a form of “collective punishment” given some of the cohort were not involved.
Mr Connock said the lockdown was contrary to United Nations rules for the treatment of prisoners.
Other issues raised in his report included:
- Years-long delays in investigations of staff concerning allegations of child sexual assault at the Ashley Youth Detention Centre.
- Some inmates who swallowed razor blades were placed in holding cells without access to intercoms to call for help in the event of an emergency.
- Risk assessments were not always conducted prior to people sharing cells, including one case when an inmate was seriously assaulted.
By Jano Gibson
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