Arohata care faces criticism
Wellington’s Arohata Prison has been criticised by the chief ombudsman for its failure to follow up recommendations for improving the treatment of prisoners.
Thirteen issues, including privacy and healthcare concerns, continue to go unresolved at the women’s prison in Tawa, after 17 recommendations were made by the ombudsman in a 2015 report.
Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier published reviews of Arohata, Christchurch Men’s, Rolleston, and Manawatu prisons last week.
Inspections were carried out this year as part of New Zealand’s international obligations to ensure detainees don’t suffer torture and other forms of illtreatment.
Problems surrounding prisoners’ treatment at Arohata, their material conditions, activities and communications and healthcare had not been rectified, the report stated.
Privacy screens were recommended to be installed around toilet facilities in the At-Risk Unit and Secure Unit, while cameras should not cover the toilet.
One inspector stated that ‘‘prison staff (and others) having the ability, either directly or through camera footage, to observe prisoners undertaking their ablutions or in various stages of undress amount to degrading treatment or punishment for the purpose of the Convention Against Torture’’.
However, the Department of Corrections rejected the suggestion, as it did not consider removing the cameras to be ‘‘consistent with the safe custodial management of prisoners’’.
Schedule 2 Part C of the Corrections Regulations ensures all prisoners at risk of self-harm must be seen at all times.
Corrections has since reconsidered its position in regards to this recommendation, it said in response to the report. As a result, a national working group was established by Corrections to review privacy issues in both at-risk units and separate cells, and provide prisoners with greater privacy when using the toilet in their cell.
During the inspection, paperwork problems were also identified.
Corrections chief custodial officer Neal Beales said that, while the report highlighted some disappointing areas regarding the prison’s own processes, it didn’t suggest a lack of response from staff.
‘‘We take these recommendations very seriously, but we have to take a balanced view especially when it comes to changing legislation which doesn’t happen overnight.’’