Prisoners’ mental and physical health is rapidly declining in South Australian prisons. As a National Network, we demand that immediate action is taken to address these grave concerns.
The National Network unequivocally condemns the South Australian Correctional Services’ use of isolation and solitary confinement as a means to uphold the ‘good order and safety’ of the prison.
The National Network is deeply troubled by the continued use of solitary confinement to manage prisoners’ health by confining them when they are experiencing mental health episodes or episodes of mental ill health. ‘It is well- documented that solitary confinement exacerbates and worsens prisoners’ conditions,’ said Debbie Kilroy. ‘In fact, The Mandela Rules, state that solitary confinement can be regarded as a form of torture 1 , and as a Network with a membership of women who have been to prison, many of whom have served periods of time in solitary, we agree that it serves no other purpose than to segregate the prisoner and worsen their condition,’ said Debbie Kilroy.
‘In the coronial inquest into Selesa Tafaifa’s death in custody, the coroner heard evidence of Selesa having spent significant time in an isolation cell, supposedly for her own good. The prison system consistently argues that the use of solitary is to keep prisoners safe, but for many prisoners it makes things considerably worse, and in the case of Selesa, it contributed to her death. We must act now to prevent any more deaths in custody,’ said Tabitha Lean.
Over the weekend, The National Network spoke with concerned community members and criminalised women to discuss the current conditions in Adelaide prisons. ‘We are alarmed by the reports regarding the use of G Division at Yatala Labour Prison to imprison a 19-year-old pregnant Aboriginal woman, when the UN Bangkok Rues explicitly prohibit the use of solitary confinement or disciplinary segregation for pregnant women. We are appalled to learn that D Wing, the isolation wing of Adelaide Women’s Prison, is filled with people who should be receiving mental health support rather than being confined in solitary cages. We are disturbed by accounts of women being physically restrained in straitjacket-like restraints to prevent self harm, and women making suicide pacts,’ said Tabitha Lean. ‘What is the Corrections Minister doing? Where is the concern for the women under his watch? Minister Cregan, you have a duty of care to all citizens in this state, it is an abrogation of that duty of care to not address the serious human rights breaches occurring in the prisons under your control,’ said Tabitha Lean.
‘We are furious that Aboriginal prisoner, Tony Smith, who was hospitalised following a hunger strike, was released from hospital and immediately placed in solitary confinement at Yatala Labour Prison. Our concerns for his well- being are ongoing. His family is distraught with fears for his mental health,’ said Debbie Kilroy.
‘Tony has been in prison since he was 19 years old and has suffered repeated breaches of his human rights. He has endured seven years in solitary confinement, and after being hospitalised for illness following a sustained hunger strike, he was thrown into an isolation cell instead of receiving care and support. This is outrageous. We ask, where is the Parole Board on this matter? We understand Tony is well past his parole date, and after this many years, he is a vastly different man today than he was at 19 years of age,’ said Debbie Kilroy.
The National Network demands answers from the Minister for Corrections. We call for an immediate review of every single prisoner being held in solitary and isolation, as well as every woman being sent to G Division at Yatala Labour Prison. We insist on immediate funding to be allocated to an organisation led by formerly incarcerated women to enter the prison to provide care and support to prisoners. Additionally, we demand that every prisoner in isolation be released with proper health care and mental health support, and the government make immediate moves to abolish solitary confinement entirely.
For further comment, please contact Tabitha Lean 0499 780 226 or Debbie Kilroy on 0419 762 474
