Post by Banjo on Jul 19, 2012 5:35:26 GMT 7
Handling of prisoner complaints criticised
THE handling of jail inmates' complaints in South Australia is sometimes unfair and lacks efficiency and accountability, the state's ombudsman says.
After an investigation, ombudsman Richard Bingham said that while prison staff and managers often had the authority to deal with complaints, prisoners were not confident they would be resolved at that level.
"The department's complaint-handling system is inefficient, and there is a distinct lack of consistency in the way in which complaints are dealt with at the local prison level and by the department," Mr Bingham said in his report tabled in state parliament on Tuesday.
"The evidence gathered in my audit indicates that the department for correctional services complaint handling system is deficient in the key areas of accessibility, efficiency, fairness and accountability."
The ombudsman said his office received 573 complaints from jail inmates in 2010-11 on issues ranging from cell conditions, drug testing and transfers to more serious issues of mistreatment or abuse.
In its response, the department said there was no evidence to suggest that prisoners in South Australia complained more or less than those in other states.
It said the SA prison system had a range of established and robust complaint-handling arrangements used on a daily basis.
However, it accepted the bulk of the ombudsman's recommendations, including calls for improved operating procedures and better education for prisoners.
The ombudsman also called on the department to make sure prisoners who made complaints were not punished.
www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/breaking-news/handling-of-prisoner-complaints-criticised/story-e6frea7l-1226422747091
THE handling of jail inmates' complaints in South Australia is sometimes unfair and lacks efficiency and accountability, the state's ombudsman says.
After an investigation, ombudsman Richard Bingham said that while prison staff and managers often had the authority to deal with complaints, prisoners were not confident they would be resolved at that level.
"The department's complaint-handling system is inefficient, and there is a distinct lack of consistency in the way in which complaints are dealt with at the local prison level and by the department," Mr Bingham said in his report tabled in state parliament on Tuesday.
"The evidence gathered in my audit indicates that the department for correctional services complaint handling system is deficient in the key areas of accessibility, efficiency, fairness and accountability."
The ombudsman said his office received 573 complaints from jail inmates in 2010-11 on issues ranging from cell conditions, drug testing and transfers to more serious issues of mistreatment or abuse.
In its response, the department said there was no evidence to suggest that prisoners in South Australia complained more or less than those in other states.
It said the SA prison system had a range of established and robust complaint-handling arrangements used on a daily basis.
However, it accepted the bulk of the ombudsman's recommendations, including calls for improved operating procedures and better education for prisoners.
The ombudsman also called on the department to make sure prisoners who made complaints were not punished.
www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/breaking-news/handling-of-prisoner-complaints-criticised/story-e6frea7l-1226422747091