iExpress

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SA Ombudsman Defends iExpress

Wayne Lines, the South Australian ombudsman, has found JA to be a multipurpose advocacy organisation. Therefore, the banning of South Australian prisoners communication to JA and therefore access to iExpress has been found to be “unreasonable”. The Chief Executive and Minister for Correctional Services have been notified. JA is now in dialogue. Currently all Australian states and territories except SA have accepted the role of iExpress.  

For more information view here.

Overview

Justice Action is proud to introduce iExpress, the world’s first prisoner webpage and interactive email system aimed at empowering people in prisons and forensic hospitals, bringing them into the digital world, and reducing the divide and social exclusion that currently exists. They will now have the opportunity to access an exciting new channel of self-expression and communication, free of charge. iExpress has been acknowledged by Huffington Post, a Pulitzer Prize winner and the world’s most popular blog.

iExpress generates a personalised webpage, which allows people in prisons and hospitals to make a personal statement that addresses their current feelings and attitudes. This is in line with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which protects the rights of expression and personal opinion under articles 2, 3, 12, 18, 19, 22 and 27.

The iExpress email service allows people in prisons and hospitals to send and receive email messages to and from members of the general community.

iExpress has the support of victims’ groups and provides a platform for restorative justice and reconciliation with the community. Justice Action will not publish webpages including anything defamatory, aggressive or showing ill will.

Each of these services is under the direct control of the Justice Action team, who actively review content to ensure that the service fulfills the aims of iExpress.

iExpress complies with Commonwealth and State legislation, also under s 51(v) of the Australian Constitution, which relates to communication powers. Legal analysis is accessed here.

The Victorian challenge to iExpress’s existence provided an opportunity to secure it. Their letter is here Our response is here. See media coverage here. It will remain a responsible refuge for all people in custody nationally and internationally, and it cannot be removed.

iExpress can be accessed here.

Media Attention

iExpress has received media attention from ‘Today’, ‘The Sydney Morning Herald’, and from ‘Herald Sun’. The ‘Herald Sun’ dubs iExpress as “Facebook for prisoners” and Chris Urquhart states that “some profiles read like personal ads”.

The article from ‘Today’ can be found here.  

‘Today’ contacted the Corrective Services Department of each state and territory in regards to iExpress. Their responses were unanimous. Each Department found that the iExpress website does not constitute a breach under any policies and procedures as it is conducted by an independent third party.

Their full statements are available to view here.

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