September 05, 2019
State care fail evidence from prison testimony
The Royal Commission into Historical Abuse in State Care has started private meetings with prisoners.
Commissioner Andrew Eruiti says it's important to hear from hard to reach communities including men and women in prison, the majority of whom have state care in their backgrounds.
Inmates can call an 0800 222 727 number, and there are also information kiosks in prisons.
The inquiry can then schedule a one or two hour session for a commissioner to hear about their experience of care.
"It's not always limited just to care of course. It's about the long term effects of care and protection by the state or it could be a faith-based institution but the long term effects are blatant and standing in our face of course because we're having these meetings in prisons," Dr Eruiti says.
The commission is also keen to have inmates testify during the public hearings which start in October.
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