November 25, 2020
Torture hidden behind private prison facade says lawyer
A Māori human rights lawyer says reports of maltreatment of inmates at Auckland Women’s Prison says it’s an inevitable consequence of privately-run prisons.
The trial of three women on charges related to setting fires at the prison has revealed stories of inmates teargassed in their cells, forced extractions by large groups of guards in battle dress, and inmates forced to plead for food or sanitary products.
Dr Huhana Hickey says handing over management of prisons to huge profit-driven multinational corporations was a huge mistake and has led to the import of American attitudes and practices.
"The bullying, the manipulation and to be honest I'm really shocked because I've been out at Wiri, I've been out at some of these women's prisons, and they present this wonderful, beautiful place, they're smiling, they wave at you doing the service dogs and all that and it seems to be really functioning well, and right behind that front there's all this torture going on," she says.
Dr Hickey says most women in prisons are victims of violence rather than perpetrators, and they need to be in an environment where they can heal and make changes in their lives.
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