Prisoners held in prolonged solitary confinement - Inspectorate

Midday Report

Some prisoners housed in the Corrections' Extreme Risk Unit have spent over 900 days in solitary confinement, considered a breach of international human rights, where the maximum is 15 days. The Office of the Inspectorate found the conditions for the 13 men from the Prisoners of Extreme Risk Unit (PERU), in Auckland Prison were overly and unnecessarily restrictive. The unit houses prisoners who present a high ongoing risk of serious violence, including extremism and terrorism. Chief Inspector Janis Adair, acknowledges additional measures are needed for these prisoners, but says they spent most of their time alone and did not know what they could do to progress out of the unit. Charlotte speaks with Leigh Marsh, the Commissioner of Custodial Services at Corrections.