Can prisoners also be victims? Promoting injustice through legislation

by Kim Workman

Last week’s introduction of the Prisoners' and Victims' Claims (Expiry and Application Dates) Amendment Bill, brings to mind one of the most shameful incidents in the history of New Zealand’s prison system.  As Head of Prisons at the time, it gives me no great pleasure to reflect on the incident and the subsequent political response to it.  

In January 1993, three young prisoners at Mangaroa (now Hawkes Bay) prison were systematically beaten and tortured by prison officers.  They held the young men naked in outside exercise yards, and used hit squads to repeatedly beat them over a three day period.   The prisoners were initially denied access to medical support for injuries which included bruising and cracked bones.

May 18, 2010 Reform, Support, Country:New Zealand, Other, Victim, Prison, Correspondent:Kim Workman

• Read More