Open main menu Close main menu

Prison unnecessarily holds inmates in secure unit

Prisoners / Corrections
Legislation:
Ombudsmen Act 1975
Legislation display text:
Ombudsmen Act 1975
Ombudsman:
Hon Anand Satyanand
Case number(s):
A4933
Issue date:
Format:
HTML,
PDF,
Word
Language:
English

Placement of minimum secure inmates in maximum security conditions

A group of seven inmates with a classification of minimum security risk who were being transferred from Mt Eden Prison to a central North Island prison farm complained when they found themselves in ‘D’ Block at Auckland Prison East for ten days. ‘D’ Block has rather spartan conditions and is normally used to house inmates who are difficult to manage. The inmates complained that they had not done anything to warrant being held in such conditions.

The Department explained that an unexpected muster crisis had resulted in a shortage of minimum secure beds and this was the reason the inmates had been placed in ‘D’ Block. The Department also insisted that the ‘D’ Block regime be maintained irrespective of the security category of the inmates being held there.

The Department agreed that the placement of minimum secure inmates in ‘D’ Block was not desirable and, in the event of future muster crises, such inmates would be held for short periods in other parts of the prison. It was also acknowledged that if in an emergency situation ‘D’ Block had to be used again for this purpose, minimum secure inmates would be afforded additional privileges to those placed there for security reasons.

This case note is published under the authority of the Ombudsmen Rules 1989. It sets out an Ombudsman’s view on the facts of a particular case. It should not be taken as establishing any legal precedent that would bind an Ombudsman in future.

Last updated: