Remand cells inadequate, says report

Press, 1 June 1989, Page 8

Remand cells inadequate, says report

Remand prisoners are kept in Addington Prison too long, in poor facilities and without adequate care, says a damning report on the prison. It alleges:

• Remand prisoners are subjected to special punishments which the report’s authors say are “cruel, inhuman and degrading" and include corporal punishment, and placing prisoners in dark cells.

• Remand prisoners and convicted prisoners are forced to sleep in overcrowded conditions, when the declaration demands one prisoner a cell.

• Inadequate medical care is given to remand prisoners.

• No proper facilities are provided for prisoners arriving ill or suffering from drug addiction or drug abuse. The report says 65 per cent of Addington’s inmates are in that category.

• Inadequate toilet facilities.

• Failure to provide drinking water for inmates at all times as stipulated.

• Failure to provide psychiatric care for prisoners “except in extreme circumstances.”

The report says that under the justice system remand prisoners are innocent, until they are tried and found guilty, and should be entitled to humane conditions while in prison.

The seven groups which contributed to the report were: the New Zealand Howard League for Penal Reform, Catholic Prison Chaplains, Citizens’ Association for Racial Equality, Movement for Alternatives to Prison. Auckland Council for Civil Liberties, Catholic Commission for Justice, Peace and Development and Protection of the Rights of Prisoners.