The release of the 2023-24 South Australian Ombudsman’s Annual Report has revealed a deeply disturbing incident in which a correctional services officer used a prison intercom system to harass, abuse, and counsel an inmate toward suicide. This shocking case, one of thousands of complaints made to the Ombudsman, underscores systemic issues within the prison system and the urgent need for change.
The report details 609 complaints against the South Australian Department for Correctional Services, 531 of which were made by prisoners. ‘While the Ombudsman might argue that the Department resolved these cases in an appropriate timeframe, or conducted their investigations while monitored by the Ombudsman, this particularly disturbing specific incident highlights the recurring misuse of power by correctional officers. A misuse of power that we cannot ignore, and must do something about,’ said Tabitha Lean.
A Recurring and Deadly Pattern
‘The misuse of prison intercom systems is not an isolated problem. There is a recurring theme of correctional officers using intercoms to ignore or harass prisoners, exacerbating the already dire conditions faced by incarcerated people,’ said Debbie Kilroy. ‘We hear it all the time from women in prison, who report that officers fail to respond when they cry out for help. This wilful ignorance reflects a systemic disregard for prisoner’s welfare,’ said Debbie Kilroy. ‘This type of gross negligence is reflected in the case of the tragic death of Veronica Nelson in custody, whose agonised cries for medical assistance went unanswered and ignored in the maximum security Dame Phyllis Frost Centre prison,’ said Debbie Kilroy.
A Call for Structural Change
‘The power to respond to prisoners’ emergency calls must be removed from correctional officers. Given that health departments already oversee health services in prisons, intercoms should connect directly to health professionals rather than to correctional officers. This change could go somewhere to ensuring that cries for help are met with care, not cruelty,’ said Debbie Kilroy.
‘The continued maltreatment of prisoners must be recognised for what it i —a gross breach of human rights and, in some cases, tantamount to torture. The actions of the officer in this case are not an anomaly but a symptom of a broader culture of abuse and neglect within the prison system,’ said Tabitha Lean.
Holding Systems Accountable
‘While the Ombudsman has noted that the Department acted appropriately in investigating and addressing the officer’s behaviour—leading to their resignation and placement on a public sector employment register—as a National Network we argue this is not enough,’ said Tabitha Lean. Systemic failures cannot be resolved through individual accountability alone. The prison system must be overhauled to prioritise the dignity, health, and human rights of those in its cages,’ said Tabitha Lean.
Immediate Action Needed
‘This case reinforces the urgent need for independent oversight of all aspects of prison management in South Australia, the reallocation of emergency response duties to healthcare providers, and a national reckoning with the culture of cruelty embedded in the carceral system,’ said Tabitha Lean.
‘The National Network of Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls calls on policymakers, the community, and all stakeholders to demand justice and accountability. We cannot allow these abuses to continue in silence,’ said Debbie Kilroy.
For further comment, please contact Debbie Kilroy on 0419 762 474 or Tabitha Lean on 0499 780 226