Risdon's solitary confinement unit is under investigation.The Tasmanian Ombudsman has begun an investigation into the unit after hearing inmates have not had access to enough sunlight or fresh air.
It has been alleged that two inmates have been locked up in the Tamar Unit since it opened two years ago, and were also held in the previous solitary confinement unit.
Ombudsman Simon Allston says one inmate has been in solitary for three years and the other for five years.
He says he must investigate the implications.
"You're effectively locked up for upwards of 21 hours a day and where you have limited access to fresh air and sunlight and you're likely to of course suffer mental impairment," he said.
Mr Allston expects the investigation to be completed by the end of the year.
Shadow Attorney General Michael Hodgman says the inquiry is long overdue.
"Labor's more intent on covering up than letting the truth come out," he said.
The Tasmanian Prison Service says it is happy to co-operate with the investigation.
Quote: Indefinite Solitary Confinement is practiced throughout Australia in prisons and some detention centres. Solitary confinement is also used for short-term punishment for internal prison offences. It is well known that particularly high profile prisoners are subject to indefinite solitary confinement as an extended punishment by the government.
Prisoners used to be brutalised physically in Australian prisons but that leaves marks on the body. Since the Nagle royal commission that saw Katingal shut and the brutal regime in other jails like Grafton in NSW end there has been a reliance on psychological torture for prisoners because that is a lot harder to prove to some investigative authorities.
Psychological torture is easier to cover up. The governor will argue that the prisoner is high risk and needs intensive management. At the HRMU High Risk Management Unit in Goulburn Correctional Centre in NSW prisoners have been set up and framed for internal offences to secure the governments need to additionally punish a high profile prisoner.
Most prisons are State prisons therefore the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission doesn’t investigate these matters, because it is not covered under their act they only act for Federal Prisoners. Some prisoners, who claim they are innocent of high profile crimes are held in solitary confinement indefinitely.
So why didn’t the Ombudsman investigate those matters in any other state of Australia besides Tasmania? It is common knowledge that in NSW, prisoners are held in solitary confinement indefinately and psychologicaly tortured and some have even died because of that treatment.Related:
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Goulburn Solitary Confinement: Midnight SpecialIf you ever go to Goulburn HRMU yeah, you better walk right, you'd better not breathe and sure thing better not fight. The next thing you know the SCU gonna arrest you and Rotten Ron send you down and you can bet your bottom dollar Lord, you'll be chaingang bound.
NSW prisons - primary industry bailed up!In many quiet regional centres around NSW there is a new primary industry shaping up. It has something to do with Bail but not with bales. The minister for Agriculture Richard Amery who also has the prisons portfolio is now committed to farming prisoners.
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The Government is likely to abolish the Inspector General of Corrective Services position The Mulawa inspection report recommendations below strictly illustrate how important he is.
Black NexusThe Separation of Powers Doctrine is nowcontaminated witharangeofcolours, now leaving us with a black shirt on a once blue bridge that crossed that thin blue line. The 'Amery and Woodham show'.
Prison Mind Games-Do they exist?Directives are given inside the prison system that are not consistent with the law in NSW. And not in the good interests of the health and well being of the prisoners.
Chronology - A History of Australian Prisons[Allegedly:] The events that have shaped NSW prisons - from convict days through royal commissions, to the Supermax of today. [I say allegedly because no one should trust Four Corners [Walls], why? Because they spill out the propaganda of the day for the Government, whether it be wrong or right. A government that lies and has no remorse about it.]
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