NCJ Number
87776
Date Published
1982
Length
76 pages
Annotation
This discussion of corrections in New South Wales (Australia) considers prison industries, the treatment of remand prisoners, human rights in prisons, transfer of prisoners between jurisdictions, drug-abusing inmates, and international accreditation.
Abstract
The section on prison industries notes that they have diversified into an extensive range of activities that produce a variety of products ranging from primary products such as vegetables, dairying, poultry, pigs, sheep, and cattle; manufactured items such as school furniture, beds, and cupboards; to garments and linens manufactured for hospitals. The industries are intended to develop inmate work skills. The amount paid workers depends on the skill level achieved, and those industries which provide revenue for the corrections department pay according to production, with the maximum limit being $30 per 5-day week. The discussion of the treatment of remand prisoners advises that the primary need is for inmate classification that separates remand inmates from convicted inmates and divides the remand population according to age and security requirements. In the area of inmate rights, significant advances have been made, including the establishment of a grievance process that bypasses correctional officers. While this has created complaints by officers, the number of officer abuses of prisoners has apparently declined. There is an effort to give officers greater participation in management and in treatment programs. There are no provisions for exchange of prisoners between States and between countries, although efforts are underway to change this circumstance. Problems associated with having drug offenders in prisons include dealing with foreign-born prisoners with language and cultural differences, the provision of adequate drug treatment programs, and countering drug trafficking in prison. New South Wales has formally approved in principle of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners and related recommendations. Considerable progress has been achieved in their implementation either by legislative adoption or administrative action. Appended is a statement of the extent to which the United Nations Minimum Standard Rules for the treatment of prisoners and related recommendations have been implemented in New South Wales.