15 Dec 2020

Justice advocate finds Paremoremo concerning

From Midday Report, 12:17 pm on 15 December 2020

A justice advocate, academic and former prisoner says a report which cited cruel treatment of inmates is not surprising, despite the government promising change.

A report into the country's only maximum security prison reveals a myriad problems and shows it is failing on promises to boost rehabilitation.

Chief Ombudsman, Peter Boshier, inspected Paremoremo prison in Auckland unannounced and found prisoners were being locked in cells for up to 23 hours a day, despite new units opening to aid rehabilitation.

But the union for prison officers says prisoners need to start behaving if they want to be treated differently.

Rawiri Waretini-Karena was an independent consultant for the Hokai Rangi strategy and told Māni Dunlop the report findings are concerning.