The Canberra Times reports that ACT Corrective Services have seen a big jump in complaints.
- Complaints against ACT Corrective Services have jumped nearly 60 per cent in the past year as inmates in Belconnen Remand Centre buck against conditions in the facility.
The figures come as an inmate who voiced his concerns about conditions in the facility to The Canberra Times last week suffered a heart attack in his cell.
A total of 155 complaints were made against ACT Corrective Services in 2007-08, with 62 investigated by the Ombudsman’s office.
Three of those complaints led to a policy change, a formal apology and financial compensation. In 2006-07 the number of complaints was 94.
Now prisoners will always complain for a number of reasons including:
- — Many of them wouldn’t be there if not for their inherent dishonesty,
— It’s a way to pass their copious amounts of free time,
— Every now and then you’re going to get a result, making a complaint is their equivalent of buying a lottery ticket.
On the other hand, a significant rise in the number of complaints can probably be added to the growing signs of crisis surrounding the prison debacle.