Families call for prison changes

Inmates' families are backing a call for drastic changes at New Plymouth's 150-year-old prison.

They say prisoners in the older part of the stone building are locked down for 22 hours and never given a chance to undertake employment, education, hobbies or other activities.

The relatives contacted Taranaki Daily News after an article in which senior church leaders described the lockdown as "disturbing" and the cramped cells a shame and disgrace.

Anglican clergy, including the Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu and former Governor-General Sir Paul Reeves, slammed the conditions as dehumanising for inmates and staff alike.

Prison manager Peter Madsen conceded the age and configuration of the prison were not ideal, but said the prisoners were managed in the same way as others in New Zealand.

It was logistically difficult for staff to manage the requirements of a wide varietyof prisoners in such a small site, often in trying circumstances. "The reality is that the site was state-of-the-art in the year 1860, and the management of prisoners and the prison population was significantly different than they are today."

However, he said the safety of the public remained top priority and as long as the Corrections Department had limited capacity to hold prisoners, the prison would remain operational.

The mother of one prison inmate said her 19-year-old son shared a cell with another inmate and was allowed out only for two hours between 11am-1pm.

In that time he was to shower, make any phone calls, exercise and socialise.

- © Fairfax NZ News