14 November 2013

Prison to never be Human Rights compliant?

| johnboy
Join the conversation
9

When is an aspirational target just a lie?

The ABC reports that Shane Rattenbury is managing expectations downward on the Hume Hilton:

During an ACT Legislative Assembly committee hearing today Mr Rattenbury was asked by the Canberra Liberals if the jail is in fact human rights compliant.

“I don’t think it will ever be perfectly human rights compliant in that broad sense,” he said.

“Expectations will change and I’m going to clarify this now because having just uttered those words I’m sure they’re going to be thrown back at me at some point.

“Circumstances that will change, expectations will change, there will be different views on exactly what human rights compliance is.”

In the meantime it remains too small for the population being housed.

Join the conversation

9
All Comments
  • All Comments
  • Website Comments
LatestOldest

It was silly of them to announce that it would be a ‘human rights’ prison in the first place. The whole point of prison is that the sentenced person has forfeited his or her right to be free to be in the community. There is always going to be tension between what prisoners and the community perceive as rights and ‘freedoms’.

However, clearly more money needs to be put in to address Court delays, lengthy remand times and inappropriate mixing of certain categories of prisoners (which requires flexible space). In other states, these sorts of changes didn’t come about until after people who were incarcerated simply for non-payment of traffic fines were murdered by other prisoners whilst on remand. I hope we don’t have to have that sort of crisis to trigger proper resources.

Woody Mann-Caruso5:51 pm 14 Nov 13

veg said :

do we not have gaols anymore?

Bonjour! Bienvenue a Canberra! Puis-je voir votre machine de temps?

do we not have gaols anymore?

thebrownstreak694:31 pm 14 Nov 13

BimboGeek said :

Right, obviously I need to charge them $10,000 to run a workshop on SMART goals.

Criterion #1 is “Specific.”

Measurable.

That will be two grand, please.

Right, obviously I need to charge them $10,000 to run a workshop on SMART goals.

Criterion #1 is “Specific.”

In the meantime it remainse too small for the population being housed.

well, the inhumane and ruthless act criminal justice system ought to be exercising a bit more lenience in its sentencing, innit.

Well, that’s another $100 million in the can.

thebrownstreak6912:28 pm 14 Nov 13

Erg0 said :

Based on his statement that “there will be different views on exactly what human rights compliance is”, I’m left wondering if a Human Rights Compliant Prison is even a thing.

The Humans Rights measures that the ACT implemented must surely be defined clearly. Audit against that list, taking into account systemic activities and issues.

It’s not that hard.

Based on his statement that “there will be different views on exactly what human rights compliance is”, I’m left wondering if a Human Rights Compliant Prison is even a thing.

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.