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Prison

Sister of prisoner issues reminder inmates are still people amid concerns around treatment in NZ cells

  • 20/04/2023

There are calls to remember that prisoners are still people as concern rises around the treatment of those locked up in Aotearoa's jails.

New Zealand prison conditions are alleged to include over-crowding, double-bunking and not being allowed out of their cells at reasonable intervals.

They're measures that could go against the United Nations Human Rights principle that prisoners are also entitled to dignity and respect.

The sister of a prisoner, Heather Keach, told AM she understands if people struggle to feel sorry for prisoners.

"There's a real misconception with men that are in prison. I mean, you probably only ever hear about the really bad ones. But there are a lot of pretty normal men in there who have just made mistakes."

Keach said no matter the bad decisions that have led to them being imprisoned, they still have rights.

"They may have had their freedom taken from them, but they still have rights and when mental health issues are not being addressed, there are men in there that are contemplating suicide because it's the only way they can see getting out."

She said the prison her brother is in is facing staff shortages and she claimed her brother has 40 men in his unit and is looking to add another 20.

"They don't have enough staff at the moment to deal with the 40 that they have, so they're very concerned about how they're going to cope with extra men coming in."

Keach said as a result of extra men, many of them will have to double bunk.

Canterbury Howard League for Penal Reform Cosmo Jeffery told AM the UN convention "clearly states that people will be housed in one cell per person".

"The cells that are built in all of New Zealand are built for one person and now suddenly they're being double-bunked and 10 people are in one space," he said.

"Imagine if you are in one space and you are locked up for more than 22 hours in a day."

In a statement to AM, a Corrections New Zealand spokesperson said there is no overcrowding in Aotearoa prisons and that prison populations here are lower now than they were in 2018 when numbers had peaked.

The spokesperson said because prisoners have been moved around due to COVID-19 measures, there has been a temporary increase in double-bunking.

It pointed to an example one day this week when about 33 percent of New Zealand's prison population double-bunked, which is down from 42 percent when compared to 2018.

As amended on-air later in AM after the interview concluded, Corrections was not asked to appear on the show. They were asked for a statement.

Watch the full segment above. 

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