Women prisoners lose family access

SYDNEY — The Department of Corrective Services' decision to reduce family contact with women prisoners, and children seeing their mothers, is "heartless mismanagement that will have disastrous effects on prisoners' rehabilitation" said Kat Armstrong from Justice Action on July 12.

At Emu Plains women's prison, visits have been available for seven hours on each day of weekends and holidays, and the local Rotary Club organised a BBQ for the visiting families. However, families have been told that they will in future have only half-day visits, without a joint meal with the mothers, and will have to book their visits in advance. They are now standing in queues trying to get in in the limited time available.

Kerry Smith

From Green Left Weekly, July 19, 2006.

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From GLW issue 675