PRISONERS REVOLT

Evening Star, Issue 17850, 22 December 1921, Page 5

PRISONERS REVOLT

VICTORIAN GAOL SYSTEM. AMAZING STATEMENTS. At tho requost of the prisoners in Pentridge (says tho Melbourne ‘Age’), one of their number has drawn up a document—the second since tho recent trouble bogan ■—to ventilate “ one of the many grievances which led up to the revolt at tho prison.” After asserting that tho public has never been informed of the real grievance which brought about tho revolt—" namely the treatment of prisoners in A division, and not the prisoners' objections to being searched for contraband ’’ —the writer states:—

“ I consider that this treatment in A division’will he a revelation to the public, and its exposure should bo tho means of abolishing the penal system for all time, A division in Pentridgo is whore the prisoners are subjected to many forms of coercion, such as solitary confinement, bread and water, separate treatment, restraint, and, finally, tho treatment known as 1 observation,’ the two latter being eO damnable as to be almost beyond belief. There is a time limit to the first two of these coercive measures j but tho authorities sidestep., this by resorting to tho subterfuge of changing tho term ‘separate’ to ‘restraint’ or ‘observation, 1 ns apparently under those terras they possess power to hold a prisoner in close confinement for years, until his.term of imprisonment is complete, or until ho becomes insane. The treatment consists of confining tho victim in an enclosed cell for nineteen hours out of every twenty-four; the remaining five hours he is confined in a coll with close-meshed wire in place of a roof. On Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays he passes twenty-three hours in the unclosed cell, and for one hour of these days he is permitted to walk up and down in a separate space, which is walled and barred from contact with other prisoners. This is the only walking exercise permitted, as both enclosed and partiallyenclosed cells will not admit of stretching tho limbs in the act of walking. Absolute separation is insisted upon, and the victim is never in a position to converse with any human being from month to month, even though he should bear up under the treatment for years. At time of writing there ate ten men undergoing this diabolical treatment. And mark this : ft was the thrusting of a lefiow-prisoner into this living death which was the cause of tho general stoppage of work on October 7 and of the subsequent events.

“In order to give a vivid illustration of the power vested in the hands of the Inspector-General and governors of Victorian penal establishments, and the inhuman methods to which prisoners are subjected. I shall herewith give details of the treatment meted out to E. Einsforn, who is serving a sentence of ‘life' imprisonment, and who is at present a victim to the treatment referred to. Investigation will show that the prisoners fear that they may bo subjected to similar treatment and driven insane. This is not imaginary; it is fact. About June, 1919, Einsfom developed a fad for physical culture, Ho did not neglect his work, but after completing his task he would strip to the waist, go through the exercises, and then sponge himself. The authorities took exception to this diversion, and passed him for medical examination, with the result that Einsfom was placed under the ‘observation’ or ‘restraint 1 system of A division on August 15, 1919. He was kept in close confinement until November 26, 1920, with the exception of a short spell in hospital when ho broke clown under the ill-treatment of strait jaiVats and rough handling. After a stay of five days in association ho was again returned to A division, and there he still remains, That is to say, deleting the five days mentioned, Einsfom has actually jrassed two years and three months locked away without speech or communication with his fellowbeings. According to general routine, he has spent approximately 691 days in a badly-ventilated enclosed cell, 120 days in a partially-enclosed cell, and only ten days’ walking exercise in that two years and three months. A fellow-prisoner who has recenth- been released from this inhuman treatment declares that Einsfom is now a hopeless idiot. (Examine this prisoner yourselves, and you will not wonder at the prisoners’ determined,movement to put a stop to such things, and their demand for reform and enlightenment instead of the harsh penal methods under which such things can happen.)

“ This is not an isolated case. Other unfortunates have undergone long periods of this treatment, before finally being sent to a mental hospital. Five men hbve just been released after being detained for upwards of twelve months' isolation, day and night. Ten men, at time of writing, arc being subjected to similar treatment, nil being detained without trial, simply under the autocratic power wielded by the Inspector-General and governor,” In conclusion, it is stated that the prisoners, “who before resorting to force tried every passive means known to them to have their grievances rectified,'’ have now decided that no more men are to he driven insane. The authorities, it is stated, have had a. former opportunity to rectify injustice and have failed to do so. The document ends with the hope that “to prevent further misery to prisoners and ciamage to Government property a public inquiry will be instituted at the earliest possible moment.”