Ombudsmen boost staff numbers to handle inmate complaints

The Office of the Ombudsmen's staffing boost is in response to thousands of complaints from prison inmates. File photo / Derek Flynn

Thousands of complaints from prison inmates have prompted the Office of the Ombudsmen to bolster staff numbers to handle them.

Prisoners made 3292 complaints in 12 months - about nine a day - prompting the office to appoint an Assistant Ombudsman (Prisons) in August 2008, and new investigators in January and June.

Most cases were resolved in one or two days, with in-depth inquiries completed in 1007 cases.

"While some complaints may seem trivial, they are of genuine concern to the individual prisoner," the report said.

"Our ability to resolve such complaints quickly benefits both prisoners and frontline Corrections staff."

Examples of complaints upheld in the 2008/09 year were:

* A prisoner was not allowed to wear a lavalava outside his own prison unit; and

* Prisoners being required to squat during strip searches in circumstances where that requirement was not permitted by legislation.

Examples of straightforward matters swiftly resolved were:

* Helping a prisoner quickly get legal papers from his former prison for an upcoming court hearing;

* Helping set up an arrangement that allowed a prisoner contact with his children;

* Facilitating a review for a prisoner who had been prevented from contacting his partner, due to alleged misuse of approved telephone arrangements. The result was resumed contact;

* Helping correct a clerical error relevant to a prisoner's classification; and

* Getting a one-call-a-day restriction on 0800 calls home by one prisoner lifted, as inmates who used pre-paid phonecards had no such restrictions.

During the year the office started its own investigations into:

* The efficiency and effectiveness of procedures for prisoners to complain about Corrections Inmate Employment and its staff;

* The treatment and conditions of segregated prisoners; and

* The provision, access and availability of health services to prisoners.

- NZPA