media release
DEATHS IN CUSTODY WATCH COMMITTEE (WA) Inc.
119 Mathieson Rd Ascot WA 6104
Tel: 61 (0)8 9277 1533 Fax: 61 (0)8 9478 4204
E-mail:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
URL: http://www.omen.net.au/~dicwc
Friday, 12 March 1999
Inadequate Prison System Fails Another�
Sadly, another prisoner has taken his life in Canningvale prison
in Western Australia. This is the sixth prison death since the 1st
of July 1998. "It is clear that the gross overcrowding within our
prison system is a significant contributing factor to this death"
said Kath Mallott, the Executive Officer of the Deaths In
Custody Watch Committee of Western Australia.
"Overcrowding is the cause of poor living standards for
prisoners, and also in a shameful lack of access to much
needed support and rehabilitation programmes. There is an
urgent need for more doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, and
social workers if the prisoners who are presently crowded into
our jails are to survive their sentences" said MS Mallott.
"When you have an overcrowded system and inadequate
staffing levels, there is every likelihood that risk factors
associated with self-harm will not be recognised."
"It is interesting to note that should this death have occurred in
the soon to be completed private prison at Wooroloo South, the
Ministry of Justice would now be imposing a $100,000
fine on the operators of that prison. Whilst at the same time, the
Ministry of Justice continues to turn a blind eye to gross
inadequacies within its own jails" the Executive Officer
concluded.
Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html
Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop
Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink
Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
LL:PR:Inadequate Prison System Fails Another...
Deaths In Custody Watch Commitee (WA) Inc. Fri, 12 Mar 1999 02:42:31 -0500
