On Monday, 16 October 2023, Four Corners aired an episode (‘Trapped’) which revealed allegations of the torture and mistreatment experienced by people in prison with disabilities and mental illness. These people are locked up for an indefinite period of time by the state. In the most extreme circumstances, they are locked up for years in solitary confinement, with no set release date. This, without doubt, is a violation of human rights.
This program starkly highlights the need for alternative community support systems, like peer mentoring, to ensure that the person is let safely back into the community – this refers to both the safety of the person with the disability or mental illness, in concert with the safety of the wider community.
Click here to watch the Four Corners episode.
Click here to read our report on peer mentoring.