Media release – Office of the Custodial Inspector, 25 August 2022
Mary Hutchinson Women’s Prison Inspection Report, Inspection of the Women’s Prison at Risdon Prison Complex in Tasmania, December 2021
The Mary Hutchinson’s Women’s Prison (MHWP) Inspection Report 2021 was tabled in the House of Assembly of the Tasmanian Parliament today outlining significant progress in the rehabilitation model at Tasmania’s only all-female correctional facility.
Mr Connock said one of the key achievements to date for MHWP has been the progress toward the adoption of a therapeutic community model and the fostering of strong partnerships with community-based organisations for improved prisoner rehabilitation.
“The intention and newly established framework to provide programs that will assist women to develop skills and pathways for a better transition back to the community should be commended,” said Mr Connock.
“There has been a definite shift at MHWP of moving from a traditional ‘safety and security’ model towards the implementation of a therapeutic approach. This is a positive step towards addressing the needs of women during incarceration,” he said.
“At MHWP community-based organisations are providing general and vocational education and training courses and the breadth and availability of programs was a strength. However, this delivery is covering a void created by a lack of criminogenic and other intervention programs which should also be provided by TPS,” said Mr Connock.
Mr Connock made the point that whilst improvements to the overall model delivery were creditable there were still a number of operational issues to be addressed.
“For example, female remandees continue to be housed within MHWP, as the Southern Remand Centre has not been designed to accommodate females. This is not in line with inspection standards that specify that remand or unconvicted persons, are, as far as possible, to be kept separate from those that are convicted,” said Mr Connock.
“Likewise, the Suicide and Self Harm (SASH) cell and one overflow cell in MHWP are not considered suitable and do not meet the relevant inspection standard. Their location, and lack of sound proofing, mean that a prisoner in either cell and prisoners in the neighbouring common area can hear each other, leading to distress for either or both parties,” he said.
Custodial Inspector Richard Connock said that the inspection of MHWP was originally planned to commence in March 2021 however due to resourcing constraints the inspection was postponed with the full inspection commencing in November 2021.
“As a result of postponement, the Inspectorate sought initial feedback in the form of verbal briefings and reports from Tasmania Prison Service (TPS) management including Deputy Secretary Corrections, Rod Wise and Director of Prisons, Ian Thomas to highlight major issues facing the prison,” said Mr Connock.
“A number of issues had already been raised with TPS senior management prior to the inspection’s commencement in November 2021. Specifically, being no fit for purpose safe cell, crisis support or inpatient facility at MHWP and concerning staffing levels within maximum security and in MHWP Gatehouse, which overlooks gatehouse security and suicide and self-harm watch,” Mr Connock said.
“These issues were brought to the attention of TPS management as a matter of urgent concern prior to the inspection commencing and I am pleased to report that action was taken to improve staffing levels,” said Mr Connock.
“I am satisfied as a result of this early intervention, in addition to the full inspection in November 2021, that the key concerns and recommendations in the report are reflective of the current conditions and operating environment at MHWP,” he said.
Mary Hutchinson Women’s Prison Inspection Report, Inspection of the Women’s Prison at Risdon Prison Complex in Tasmania, December 2021.
Environmental Health and Hygiene Inspection Report – Inspection of Adult Custodial Services in Tasmania, 2021
The Tasmanian Custodial Inspector’s Environmental Health and Hygiene Inspection Report 2021 for Adult Custodial Services was tabled in the House of Assembly of the Tasmanian Parliament today with recommendations to address a range of basic hygiene and health protocols across Tasmania’s prison system.
Mr Connock said this is the second time the Custodial Inspectorate has now reviewed the suite of inspection standards in relation to Environmental Health and Hygiene with the first inspection conducted in 2017.
“The advantage of conducting subsequent inspections is the ability to compare improvements against the standards and whether recommendations have been implemented or adopted satisfactorily,” he said.
Mr Connock said the basic issue of clean and hygienic bedding remained a concern in 2021 despite recommendations regarding the need for routine bedding inspections in the 2017 Care and Wellbeing Inspection Report.
“My inspection team has sighted paperwork templates to ensure that mattresses, mattress covers and bedding are to be checked daily however the feedback from prisoners across all sites (with the exception of the Mersey Unit and Mary Hutchinson Women’s Prison) is that there are few or no cell hygiene checks by correctional staff, particularly with regard to mattresses, doonas, pillows and bedding,” he said.
“The issue of mould on mattresses appears to have improved overall since 2017 with more frequent changeover of bedding but despite routine inspections forming part of daily checklists, this is not occurring with any sort of regularity,” said Mr Connock.
“In addition, the continual non-observance of human rights by installing bunk beds in single cells that are designed to accommodate one prisoner, raised initially in my 2021 Capacity Utilisation Report, is still an issue that needs serious attention,” said Mr Connock.
On a positive note, Mr Connock said that all locations were compliant with good public health practices specifically the requirement to register as food services businesses operating within the Tasmania Prison System (TPS).
“Progress has been made in food hygiene since 2017 with all kitchens and food preparation services within the TPS now registered as food businesses. This means the relevant local councils are now conducting annual audits in line with food safety requirements. Pleasingly, they have been compliant,” he said.
The testing of drinking water at all TPS locations is also to be commended with water testing added to the TPS Maintenance schedules in 2018 according to Mr Connock.
“TPS have actioned recommendations from the 2017 report in regard to the quality of drinking water, with testing listed as a biannual action and the ongoing commitment to water testing by TPS is to be commended,” said Mr Connock.
Mr Connock concluded that there were positive advancements made by TPS particularly in regard to drinking water, escort vehicle pod cleaning and food hygiene. More needed to be done, however, to ensure basic hygiene matters were attended to throughout all locations including bedding, cleaning and equipment maintenance.
