Jail violence ‘fact of life’

Press, 15 September 1977, Page 10

Jail violence ‘fact of life’

’ Violence was a fact cf life. ! in penal institutions, as it was ’ I anywhere else in the comm unity, said the Superintendent of Christchurch Prisons I (Mr H. S. Stroud). I He was commenting on a suggestion bv a Christchurch Magistrate. Mr F. G. Paterson, S.M.. that "a certain amount of inmate-to-inmate violence in prisons is unavoidable.”

The Magistrate made the statement in sentencing an Australian man to a further three months imprisonment on a charge of escaping from Paparua Prison on August 19. Noel lan Parsell, aged 24, was told that if there were things he did not like within the institution he should have seen the prison superintendent, and should not have taken things into his own hands. Sentencing Parsell, who is also serving a six-month sentence for burglary, the Magistrate said that he was aware Parsell had been having a hard time in prison. The Magistrate said he could do nothing about having Parsell transferred to another prison. That was a matter for the Secretary for Justice. The Magistrate said last evening that Parsell’s allegations of victimisation had [been verified by a probation 1 officer. ; “Obviously the prison staff ■look out for this sort of Thing, but can not always be prevented,” he said. Mr Stroud said last evening that he had heard nothing about Parsell’s allegations. ‘“But this does happen from time to time,” he said.

Usually, prison feuds started from something that had occurred outside the institution. said Mr Stroud.

"Sometimes we have to protect people by segregating them from other inmates.

“They might owe someone something, or they might have given evidence, for the police against another inmate. Sexual offenders quite often get a rough time, too,” said Mr Stroud.

“This does not happen often, but an occasional disagreement is inevitable in prisons. as it is in every other part of the community.” Mr Stroud said that prison officers did everything in their power to prevent assaults or victimisation.

“Often the courts let us know that something is likely to happen to an inmate, and we take the appropriate precautions.” he said.