New prison “not another Paremoremo”

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33514, 20 April 1974, Page 12

New prison “not another Paremoremo”

By

KEN COATES)

Mr Tom Fitzgerald, superintendent of New Zealand's newest prison—the Sl.sm national women’s prison opening soon at Paparua—is determined that it should not be regarded as another Paremoremo.

“Maximum security? We don’t use the term here,” he said on a recent tour of the complex. which is rapidly nearing completion.

"This is the isolation section for four prisoners, and here, the wing for remand prisoners.” There are spartan cells, heavy doors with peep holes, control points for those in charge, and small enclosed exercise yards.

But Mr Fitzgerald does not dwell on this section of the prison unduly. He shows much more enthusiasm for the carpetted day rooms, library, quiet room, workrooms, room for hairdressing, schoolroom and chapel. And other wings, he explains, are known as Tawa, Kowhai and Pohutukawa houses.

According to their sentences and behaviour, inmates progress towards Pohutukawa House, a separate open wing with a large lounge opening on to a terrace and lawn, and windows which are npt locked. This wing provides conditions as near as possible to those of a hostel. Tom Fitzgerald is fullv aware that he and his staff of 28 will be charged with the safe custody of up to 40 women offenders from all over the country. Major task However he freely admits to a bias towards the other major task — that of endeavouring to ensure that when the prisoners are released they are better able to hold their places in society. Women are not nearly as criminally inclined as men. Most who are sentenced to a term in the national women’s prison are there because of some dishonesty involving money. And there is a small but growing proportion serving time for drug offences. Mr Fitzgerald has been in the prison service for about 10 years. He first applied for a job at the Invercargill borstal because housing provided suited him and his growing family. At the time he was foreman for the Southland Cement Company. at Orawia. 45 miles from Invercargill. Since then, he has served at Napier prison and at Waipiata Youth Centre in Central Otago, and has seen penal policy change. Dunedin pri»on For the last 18 months he has been superintendent of the old Dunedin prison lor women, which he describes as ’ pressure-cooker living” for the inmates. One marked advantage of the new prison, he said, will be that it provides sufficient space to separate prisoners of various types The new complex, set tn about 25 acres of grounds and surrounded by a high wire fence, has space that would make many a civil servant envious.

At present barbed wire atop a high fence surrounds a courtyard adjacent to the chapel, where there is provision for visitors to sit and talk with prisoners. “The first thing I will do when I take over here officially is have that barbed wire removed.' said Mr Fitzgerald. “It makes the place look like Stalag 13."

What is it like being in a job which carries responsibility for 40 or so women, all of whom have problems of varcing degrees? Tom Fitzgerald replied that he had to be honest and point out that the place was a prison Learning time "But I believe we must place equal importance on rehabilitation,” he added. “We try to make them understand they are worthwhile persons, that their period here can be a learning time, and that we can help them become better citizens. "As to what ‘rehabilitafim' means — perhaps if we can ensure that they d<> not come back to prison, then we have achieved some measure of this." But women are not the same security risks as men — ■‘they will not remain constantly 'agin’ the government." as some men do. ’’Some understandably, become emotionally upset and unco-operative.” said Mr Fitzgerald. "But others, e,pec ; al!y those serving a long term, become most cooperative.” First names He described how first names are used and sometimes prisoners become fond of staff members. “I have seen an inmate throw her arms around a staff member who had been away and kiss her. saying. It s good to see vou back, Mum.' " Mr Fitzgerald said an effort is made to keep inmates occupied and interested in what they are doing.

A large room electrically wired for sewing machines is the sewing room, ‘‘our mam industry.” Here will be made a wide variety of articles from prison officers’ shirts to bedspreads. mainly’ for the prison service. There will also be jobs in the prison kitchen, storeroom. grounds and vegetable garden, when it is established. According to the superintendent. the prison author- , ities have to “play God” in the lives of prisoners and assess what degree of custody each needs.

Allowed to study

Last year, he said, four young women in Dunedin prison were allowed to study full-time for their University Entrance examinations. and two passed. They did their share of work in the form of washing dishes, at the weekends. Mr Fitzgerald talks of keen interest in hobbies, and said women at Dunedin raised $5OO for their welfare fund through making leather handbags and other goods. Others were allowed out once a week to join a Maori culture group. Occasionally, because a pregnant woman prisoner had a baby while serving out her prison sentence, the superintendent was faced with the problem of one small extra person above the full muster number. “They can be a problem — all the focus of attention is on the mother and her baby. They receive special attention and jealousies can arise.” Mr Fitzgerald said the biggest problem in a women’s prison stems from the fact that inmates are women in a women’s world. f ’’Dolly racket"’ "In Dunedin, we would see the relationships they formed and without making a moral judgment, we wondered about the effect fact remains that this is a

problem, although we hope more space and better facilities will mean the ‘dolly racket’ will go.” There is no provision for husbands being allowed in for marital rights nights at the new prison, but the superintendent says prisoners can apply for week-end leave. Those serving sentences for serious offences would not be granted it, and those convicted on capital offences could not apply. But in some cases, towards the end of sentences, it could be granted. on lives of such relationships when perhaps women lived together later. The There is also provision

for women being given permission to work outside the prison and return each night. Some may apply for release to work during the last six months of their sentence, but Mr Fitzgerald considers this is too long a period. “The personal pressure involved in returning each

day after work is considerable and three months would be a more suitable period,” he said. Mr Fitzgerald emphasises the importance of community involvement: “The people here will not be just the Justice Department’s problem — they will be society’s problem,” he said.

“People must know what is going on in these places. We had great community involvement in Dunedin and with the improved facilities here we hope it. will be even better in Christchurch. A meeting of interested organisations will be called soon with this as-the aim.”