Ant10708
Jun 29th, 2005, 06:02 PM
Inmates get KFC after cell searches
28 June 2005
By KIM RUSCOE
Rewarding inmates with KFC in return for not "acting up" during a cell search that uncovered drugs, weapons and other contraband is unacceptable, says Corrections Minister Paul Swain.
"The (Corrections) Department is investigating the incident and is determined that it will not happen again," he said.
The department's midland regional manager, Peter Grant, said prisoners were facing internal disciplinary charges as a result of the contraband find.
Corrections Association Bevan Hanlon blew the whistle on the practice this week, saying 60 inmates at Hawke's Bay Prison were given up to $300 of fried chicken this month in return for allowing their cells to be searched.
The search turned up drugs, cannabis-smoking utensils, cellphones and crude homemade weapons such as razor blades stuck on the end of toothbrushes, and sharpened sticks, he said.
KFC was given to another group of inmates at the prison two weeks earlier but no contraband was found during that search, he said.
The worst case was last year when inmates were allowed to cook a pig on a spit, just one week after a prisoner was kicked to death by other prisoners, Mr Hanlon said.
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Staff were also expected to collect videos for inmates which are then played in cells through a central system from the control room.
"What concerns us is that when these things stop, it's one of us who gets assaulted. It's happened before and it will happen again," Mr Hanlon said.
ACT corrections spokesman Stephen Franks said negotiating with "thugs and bullies" implied prisoners were in charge.
"Instead of rewarding inmates for doing what ought to be absolutely routine, they should lose their coffee, televisions and hot showers till they start to play by Corrections' rules, not their own."
He suggested a system similar to that used by Maricopa County in Arizona be looked at for the New Zealand prison system.
Prisoners started out living in tents, wearing pink pyjamas, eating basic food and drinking only water. If they behaved, they progressed to air-conditioned cells and were given privileges such as coffee and tea, he said.
28 June 2005
By KIM RUSCOE
Rewarding inmates with KFC in return for not "acting up" during a cell search that uncovered drugs, weapons and other contraband is unacceptable, says Corrections Minister Paul Swain.
"The (Corrections) Department is investigating the incident and is determined that it will not happen again," he said.
The department's midland regional manager, Peter Grant, said prisoners were facing internal disciplinary charges as a result of the contraband find.
Corrections Association Bevan Hanlon blew the whistle on the practice this week, saying 60 inmates at Hawke's Bay Prison were given up to $300 of fried chicken this month in return for allowing their cells to be searched.
The search turned up drugs, cannabis-smoking utensils, cellphones and crude homemade weapons such as razor blades stuck on the end of toothbrushes, and sharpened sticks, he said.
KFC was given to another group of inmates at the prison two weeks earlier but no contraband was found during that search, he said.
The worst case was last year when inmates were allowed to cook a pig on a spit, just one week after a prisoner was kicked to death by other prisoners, Mr Hanlon said.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Staff were also expected to collect videos for inmates which are then played in cells through a central system from the control room.
"What concerns us is that when these things stop, it's one of us who gets assaulted. It's happened before and it will happen again," Mr Hanlon said.
ACT corrections spokesman Stephen Franks said negotiating with "thugs and bullies" implied prisoners were in charge.
"Instead of rewarding inmates for doing what ought to be absolutely routine, they should lose their coffee, televisions and hot showers till they start to play by Corrections' rules, not their own."
He suggested a system similar to that used by Maricopa County in Arizona be looked at for the New Zealand prison system.
Prisoners started out living in tents, wearing pink pyjamas, eating basic food and drinking only water. If they behaved, they progressed to air-conditioned cells and were given privileges such as coffee and tea, he said.