On March 14th 2022, Justice Action received correspondence from Senior Solicitor Tom Allchurch, on behalf of the Commissioner of Corrective Services, regarding the ongoing proceedings pertaining to the Supreme Court case of COVID-19 in NSW prisons. The Commissioner of Corrective Services has labelled the proceedings as ‘untenable and nugatory’ due to two reasons. Firstly, the Court …
Garry Page has served 13 years in prison, between 1976 and 1989, of his indeterminate life sentence after being convicted of malicious wounding with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm. Justice Maxwell deemed it necessary to deliver this sentence on Garry Page on account of his aggressive behaviour. Life Prisoners’ Inquiry Index Page While he …
John Killick is a 73 year old man with a strong sense of perception and standing within the prisoner community having lived in it for over five decades. He was only recently released on parole in January 2015. As a reformed ex-prisoner his special story is that he’s observed the desperation of lifers, understanding the …
60 year old Aboriginal man, Robert Charles Vincent Veen has served more than 42 years in prison after having received life sentences on two occasions. He was convicted for two separate counts of manslaughter, between 1975 to 1983 and again, between 1983 to 2015. Life Prisoners’ Inquiry Index Page Robert Veen’s case highlights what the …
Analysis of Submissions to the NSW Legislative Council’s Standing Committee on Law and Justice Inquiry into the Security Classification and Management of Prisoners Sentenced to Life Imprisonment There have been 26 submissions made to the Inquiry as of 11th November 2015. Government Body Submissions – Serious Offenders Review Council– NSW Ombudsman– Inspector of Custodial Services– NSW …
On the 4th of April 2016, the Standing Committee on Law and Justice (Law and Justice Committee) submitted a Report to Parliament regarding the security classification and management of inmates sentenced to life imprisonment. It responded to an intervention made by David Elliot (Minister for Corrective Services) on the reclassification of lifer Andrew Garforth. In July 2015, Andrew …
GIVE ME A SMOKE Banning smoking in prisons is a deliberate torment of people who have already lost everything. It is the bullying of people who are totally in government control, but it is seen as an easy political statement of being seen to be tough and increasing the punishment of imprisonment. NEWS: Schools Rehearse …
On March 11, a select group of thirteen prisoners, all Muslim, were re-classified as ‘extreme high-risk restricted’, without any explanation provided as to why these changes suddenly occurred. The majority of these prisoners have been convicted of terrorism-related offences, except for two prisoners who are still awaiting trial on terrorism offences. The prisoners’ new classification …
NSW Legislative Council’s Standing Committee on Law and Justice: Inquiry into the Security Classification and Management of Prisoners Sentenced to Life Imprisonment This NSW Parliamentary Inquiryis about to consider a proposal for exclusion and punishment more severe than ever before. It will consider reducing prisoners serving total life to the status of “living dead”. They would be denied the …