Nineteenth-century conditions described

Press, 14 September 1988, Page 4

Nineteenth-century conditions described

Life in prison was like being transported back to the nineteenth century, a Christchurch businessman told the committee yesterday. The man, who requested his name be suppressed for business reasons, said observing prison management had been like being back in the nineteenth century. The attitude that, inmates had no rights was still very much in evi-

dence, he said. He had been placed in “segregation” without his consent, and twice had to sleep without bedding. The prison superintendent and the Secretary for Justice had known about his “illegal” segregation, but had done nothing, he said. He also alleged he was given inadequate medical care during this time. The man laid complaints about conditions, but said he was deliber-

ately intimidated so he would withdraw them. He said one visiting justice had told him to withdraw his complaint and he would get better conditions. Another had treated his complaints alleging assault and theft by prison officers flippantly, and the complaints were not investigated, he said. The man, who was convicted for attempted murder, has spent time in nine different penal institutions.