BackAn Ombudsman investigation report relating to the conditions faced by women in the Alice Springs Women's Correctional Facility has been tabled in the Legislative Assembly.
Women in Prison II revisits similar issues to those discussed in a 2008 Ombudsman report. It concludes that progress since then has been limited at best. The ongoing initiatve and dedication of correctional officers is acknowledged. But the reality is that promising initiatives have been proposed or commenced only to be swamped in time by the voracious resource requirements of the traditional correctional system.
The current investigation was initiated in light of a range of complaints about conditions and analysis which shows the number and proportion of female prisoners in the NT has grown rapdily in recent years. Combined with substantial growth in male prisoner numbers, this has put enormous pressure on the correctional system and sub-standard conditions for female prisoners have persisted.
The report notes that, in Alice Springs, these factors have contributed to a broad range of problems for female prisoners, including:
- Chronic overcrowding
- Limits on education and rehabilitation programs
- Issues with health care of prisoners
- Cultural, language and communication issues for the predominately Indigenous population.
The report concludes that the fundamental purpose of the correctional system should be rehabilitation and that solutions must be designed with specific prisoner groups in mind.
Read the full press release of the Ombudsman below.
Source: Ombudsman Northern Territory, Australia
