Volunteer access to prisons too hard: charities

Charities working with prisoners say the Corrections Department makes it too difficult for their volunteers to get access, with some waiting months to get approval. Volunteers for The Howard League teach illiterate prisoners to read and write in one-to-one weekly sessions. League CEO Mike Williams says it currently has 100 volunteers working in prisons throughout the country, but it could deploy double or triple that number if it weren't hampered by the Department's systems and attitude. Dr Kim Workman, Adjunct Research Associate at the Institute of Criminology at Victoria University says the Howard League situation is not unique. Kathryn also speaks with the Department of Corrections.