Prison Overcrowding ‘Could Cause Riots’

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31385, 2 June 1967, Page 10

Prison Overcrowding ‘Could Cause Riots’

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 1. Overcrowding and staff shortages could cause riots in New Zealand prisons, the superintendent of Wellington’s Mount Crawford prison said today.

The superintendent (Mr L. C. Gorman) said that severe accommodation and staff shortages had created a situation where prisoners slept on the floors at night and wandered in utter boredom during the day.

This boredom and inactivity generated tensions and pressures which could lead to riots. . “The cause of this i overcrowding is that [ prison capacity has I not kept pace with the growth of population and the corresponding increase in crime,” Mr Gorman said. Mount Crawford prison staff heads in a joint interview agreed that what all major crime centres needed was a special remand prison or holding institution. Prisoners on remand are regarded virtually as “overnights” and are entitled to daily visits, reading material and consultations with lawyers. The possible “contamination” of other inmates by habitual offenders deeply concerns the prison psychologist (Mr R. Williamson). Remand prisoners are kept in a separate block, but in the last few months many have been sleeping on mats on the cold floor. “Remands, if any, deserve privacy and comfort because they’re still regarded as innocent men,” said Mr Williamson. Staff Shortage The chief prison officer '(Mr H. S. Stroud) said: “We have a serious accommodation problem which is aggravated by a shortage of prison staff. “Every man is working more hours than he should be and in each hour is doing more and handling mor-' men than he is expected to. “The Justice Department receives less consideration from the Government for building programmes because society places no value on the lot of the criminal,” Mr Stroud said. This week there were 1904 prisoners in 14 penal institu- ■ tions designed to accommo- , date 1716.

The Mount Crawford population has soared so sharply that solitary confinement in

the punishment cells has become a joke. So many recalcitrant prisoners, under normal circumstances held at Mount Eden, are at Mount Crawford that there is actually a waiting list for solitary. The most overcrowded prisons appear to be Auckland’s Mount Eden, Wellington’s Mount Crawford, and Christchurch’s Paparua, which between them have an excess of 157 inmates. Separate Figures Figures for individual prisons, with planned capacity in brackets, are:— Auckland, 255 (212); Waikeria, 418 (400); Tongariro, 189 (195); Waikune, 85 (80); New Plymouth, 55 (58); Napier, 29 (36); Wanganui, 47 (35); Wellington, 160 (131); Wi Tako, 87 (84); Paparua, 230 (145); Addington, 51 (34);

Rolleston, 79 (55); Waipiata, 50 (74); Invercargill, 160 (177). Figures vary by up to 20 a week. The new maximum security prison at Faremoremo is due to be opened in June, 1960, according to the Justice Department, but contracting difficulties may cause delays.