Pencil in eye lands inmate in hospital

An Invercargill prisoner was taken to hospital after he injured his eye, believed to be with a broken pencil.

Invercargill prison director Daryl Tamati said a prisoner was taken to hospital last month after a self-harm incident.

The prisoner was in hospital overnight but did not require surgery, Tamati said.

The Department of Corrections declined to comment about the severity of the injuries, citing privacy reasons.

Tamati said that while carrying out regular observations in the prison Intervention and Support Unit, a staff member noticed the prisoner poking his eye with his finger.

The staff member acted immediately to ‘‘safely de-escalate the prisoner’’, find out what was wrong and contacted health staff for assistance, he said.

The prisoner was put under constant staff observation while health staff assessed the prisoner.

St John Ambulance assessed the prisoner’s condition and as a result it was determined he should be escorted to hospital, Tamati said.

He stayed in hospital overnight and was returned to prison the following day.

During a search of the cell, staff found pieces of a broken pencil, ‘‘which the prisoner is believed to have used to hurt himself’’.

The prisoner had been permitted to have a pencil and paper to help his mental wellbeing, Tamati said.

The prisoner would continue to receive ongoing specialised support from Corrections’ health and custodial staff.

His management plan was regularly reviewed to ensure he was receiving the best care and intervention available, Tamati said.

Tamati said body cameras worn by Corrections staff were not activated, ‘‘as they are generally activated if a prisoner is noncompliant with staff orders’’.

‘‘The prisoner was compliant with Corrections staff and paramedics while being assessed on-site.

‘‘Regardless of whether we think

‘‘Our frontline staff work with some of New Zealand’s most complex and challenging people. It can be very difficult to prevent someone who is determined to hurt themselves.’’

Daryl Tamati Invercargill prison director

someone should be in our custody, we make every effort to ensure their mental wellbeing and physical safety during their time in custody.

‘‘This can be extremely challenging for our frontline staff who do an incredible job working with often complex, volatile people,’’ he said.

Tamati highlighted the realities of Corrections work.

‘‘Our role has expanded in recent years as we find ourselves having to manage people with significant mental health issues, and our frontline staff work with some of New Zealand’s most complex and challenging people.

‘‘It can be very difficult to prevent someone who is determined to hurt themselves.

‘‘Unfortunately, people will often make determined and repeated attempts to harm themselves by putting objects or faeces inside their wounds, hitting their heads against cell walls, or scratching themselves repeatedly.’’

He estimated 62 per cent of prisoners would have met the diagnostic criteria for either a mental health or substance abuse disorder within the 12 months prior to imprisonment.

He believed 91 per cent would have met these diagnostic criteria at some time over the course of their lives.

‘‘The disorders, however, often went undetected and were not treated prior to prison,’’ Tamati said.