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 […]
COVID COURT CASE: THE HURDLES WE FACE Read More »
As a member of the Australian Capital Territory Council of Social Services (ACTCOSS), as well as an ‘essential’ presence at the NSW Drug Summit and International Conference on Penal Abolition (ICOPA) (1997), Justice Action support the decriminalisation of drug use in Australia. Australian drug laws are regressive, punitive and harbour a very strict approach as they are influenced by the ‘war on drugs’ mentality. Instead, legislative change must be implemented to enable the introduction of a Needle and Syringe Program (NSP) in the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC) in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) for those who wish to use it. This is to ensure the prevention of disease transmission within prisons, as well as to secure detainees’ rights to an equivalent healthcare system.
Needle and Syringe Program Legal Challenge Needle and Syringe Program Legal Challenge 14/08/2019 This is a proposal to form a working group to challenge the refusal of the Needle and Syringe Program (NSP) to be made available to prisoners in New South Wales. It builds upon the work of the Kirby Institute, showcased in their
Needle and Syringe Program Read More »
Torture in Light of APECFollowing the recent APEC summit and in light of the recent Prisoner Declaration the world is left wondering where prisoner rights played into APEC. Not discussed among the APEC talks were the overwhelming and unresolved cases of torture from many of the countries represented. Most notably the host country, Australia. The
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The Laws of the Australian Government recognise that a person’s capacity to access health services is not compromised by reason of imprisonment and that all people have a basic right to health. This recognition is evidenced in Australia’s international treaty obligations. There is little doubt that prisoners are amongst the unhealthiest people in Australia. The
Prisoners’ Rights to Access Health Services Read More »
The New South Wales Corrections Health Service (CHS) estimates that about 80% of prisoners have been imprisoned for offences related to legal or illegal drug use or committed whilst under their influence. Drug Use in PrisonJustice Action raises concerns about improper medication and treatments when these arise. Justice Action also supports calls for the use
Drugs & Prisoner Health Read More »
Inmate Facts Most inmates are male, as females make up only 6% of the inmate population. 19% of male inmates and 32% of female inmates are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, compared with 2% of the general community in NSW. 50% of males and 30% of females warrant mental health referral for major depression. 40%
Statistics for Inmates & Health 2001 Read More »
The Victory for the Long Bay mental patients time out of cells isn’t over! Campaign report. It went to Parliament for an Urgency Debate on 12/11/08, and we had the majority. But Minister Hatzistergos’ promises were not kept. Media release 2nd Dec Patient statement Over recent weeks, concerns were expressed that there would be delays in the transfer of
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I can speak from first hand experience about the lack of health care within the prison service, albeit from the perspective of the much over populated female estate. The job of being a prison doctor is hard. Many inmates are drug users or self harmers. They pull fast ones to get legal prescriptions to alleviate
Inside Story – Prison Health Read More »