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Download AudioThe High Court has turned down an urgent application for an injunction to prevent sentenced women prisoners being transferred out of Wellington’s Arohata Prison.
Amanda Hill, the lawyer for eight of the prisoners, says the relocations were discriminatory, disproportionate and contradict the department’s policies on the treatment of Māori and women prisoners.
They will also disrupt the women’s rehabilitation programmes and plans for release back into the community.
The prison yesterday had a muster of 108 prisoners.
Corrections told the court the prisoners were being moved to Auckland and Christchurch women’s prisons so staff could be sent to relieve shortages at Rimutaka Prison in Upper Hutt.
Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis says Corrections has advised him that most of the women are being moved closer to whānau and to courses that will assist with parole.
He says moving prisoners around is a normal part of the managing the population.
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