An academic and former Wellington Howard League president, says for prisons to become more humane places the public must demand change.
The ombudsman paid a surprise visit to Auckland Prison and identified a culture of containment rather than rehabilitation.
Judge Peter Boshier's report details cruel treatment of inmates who are being locked in their cells at Auckland Prison for up to 23 hours at a time.
Some were being held in solitary confinement for over a year, in breach of UN rules.
Christine McCarthy told reporter Conan Young she's not surprised by the findings.
