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Fair treatment and the rights of prisoners are the unfortunate collateral damage of Corrections' shortcomings and an inability to achieve lasting change.
That according to a bruising report by the chief Ombudsman, who is pushing for an urgent fix to serious culture and leadership issues in the department, responsible for running the country's 18 jails.
The investigation was prompted by the 2020-2021 riots at Waikeria Prison. Judge Peter Boshier's concerns about unreasonable lock up hours, decrepit facilites, cultural compentancy, and disregard for basic rights including access to food , medication, whanau are nothing new.
But his latest report Kia Whaitake, Making a difference, paints a picture of a Department in denial that's unwilling or unable to make lasting change.
Judge Boshier spoke to Lisa Owen Corrections chief executive Jeremy Lightfoot, says it welcomes the ombudsman's report and accepts all recommendations in full.