Unlock hours for prisoners ‘unreasonable’, report finds

Unlock hours at Invercargill Prison were found to be unreasonable last year, a report shows.

Inspectors from the Office of Inspectorate visited the prison during September and found the time between meals was too long and there was no time for prisoners who worked or exercised to shower in the evening.

Prisoners were unlocked for a maximum of six hours a day, with breakfast at 8am and an evening meal at 4pm.

‘‘The unlock hours meant that prisoners had to wait an unreasonably long time between evening meals,’’ the report says.

It also meant prisoners in some units could not shower after work or exercise before they were locked up for the night.

Corrections chief custodial officer Neil Beales said prison management had taken immediate steps to rectify this. ‘‘This, like other recommendations made in the report, has been addressed by prison management and prisoners were not locked up for an excessive period of time.’’

Vacancies and limited access to GPs or dentists meant prisoners’ needs were also found not to have been fully met.

Following the inspection, the national commissioner said in November, three extra clinics had been provided and the prison had temporarily doubled the number of GP hours to five a week.

The report also noted the prison’s location and design meant unauthorised items could easily be brought into prison grounds, although management and staff proactively managed the security risks.

In most cases, inspectors found prisoners were kept safe, their basic needs were met, and there were plenty of opportunities for work, education and training.

Chief inspector Janis Adair said the prison’s custodial staff were active in managing risks to safety and good order, and staff actively supervised and interacted with prisoners to keep them engaged.

Although it had its challenges, the prison was working well, she said.

Prison staff were praised for their care in the day-to-day handling of the prisoners, and inspectors noted there was little violence or intimidation taking place.

The report noted the prison provided a good environment and prisoners’ needs were met.

The report was one of four to be conducted so far of 18 New Zealand prisons to see how prisons stood up to healthy prison standards, such as safety, respect and rehabilitation. The other prisons that have been inspected are in Waikeria, Auckland and Manawatu.

Invercargill Prison was built between 1908 and 1910, and underwent a $19 million upgrade recently to help prolong its lifespan. It holds 190 minimum, low and low-medium risk prisoners.