Prisoners Legal Service Tasmania in Hobart, Tasmania | Legal service

Prisoners Legal Service Tasmania

Locality: Hobart, Tasmania

Phone: +61 410 382 515

Address: C/- 146 Elizabeth St 7000 Hobart, TAS, Australia

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25.01.2022 The PLS supports this new initiative assisting female prisoners have a smoother transition back into the Tasmanian community. We thank those involved with coming up with practical measures for a group who often faces significant barriers upon release. HELPING FEMALE PRISONERS TRANSITION BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY The Tasmanian Government is committed to helping prisoners reintegrate back into the community upon their release.... This transition will be made a little easier thanks to a new 12-month pilot program that will provide women leaving prison with a support pack to assist them as they return to their communities. The Welcome Back(Pack) program is aimed at equipping women leaving the Mary Hutchinson Women’s Prison with a backpack, set of clothing, toiletries and information card detailing ways to access local support services. This initiative is being led by participants from the 2019 Tasmanian Leaders Program and has my full support as Minister. The project will complement the services already provided to women as they are released from prison and I applaud the Tasmanian Leaders Program team for driving this initiative. Approximately 200 women are released from the Mary Hutchinson Women’s Prison each year and the Tasmania Prison Service has been working with the project team to help implement the pilot program, with backpacks already being provided to women as they leave the prison. Elise Archer, Attorney-General and Minister for Corrections 8 October 2020

25.01.2022 The service's chairman Greg Barns said prisoners vulnerable to the virus, such as the elderly, should be removed from the prison in the event of an outbreak. "There are a number of prisoners now who are well into their 70s and some in their 80s. Consideration ought be given to removing them from the prison and placing them in secure accommodation in the community," Mr Barns said. "If prisoners contract the coronavirus and are forced to be quarantined it would be unconsciona...ble to quarantine them by simply locking them in their cells for 24 hours a day, seven days a week for two weeks," https://www.examiner.com.au//release-vulnerable-inmates-/

25.01.2022 COVID 19 FINES The Prisoners Legal Service is happy to assist anyone who has been fined or charged with an alleged Covid rules breach. Contact us on [email protected]

24.01.2022 Need to get your Driver's Licence back? Meet with MPES!

23.01.2022 Ensuring support for returning citizens who have been jailed for sex offences is crucial.

22.01.2022 STATEMENT FROM THE CHAIR OF THE PRISONERS LEGAL SERVICE TASMANIA GREG BARNS SC ON THE CUSTODIAL INSPECTOR'S REPORT RELEASED TODAY This report is a damning indictment of the current government's obsession with jailing individuals, not providing proper supports for prisoners when released, and failing to re establish the prison system in Tasmania as a health and education centre where people's lives are materially improved. As the Custodial Inspector notes: "the Tasmanian Pri...son Service (TPS) is overstretched at almost every point due to the continual increase in prisoner numbers and existing infrastructure constraints. This also creates system pressures in many areas including education, employment for prisoners and preparation for their release." The PLS again urges the Gutwein Government to reduce prison numbers by ensuring that persons who are otherwise eligible for bail and are denied it because they have nowhere to live, are given accommodation; ensure that Risdon, Mary Hutchinson and Ron Barwick prisons are revamped into health and education centres; restore minimum security prison space to what it was before the Minister for Corrections, Ms Archer intervened last year to slash it in half; and put on hold plans to build another prison and instead focus on alternatives to a system of detention which is an expensive failure.

22.01.2022 One of the biggest hurdles for prisoners when released is finding housing. https://www.abc.net.au//half-tasmanian-prisoners-/12059210

22.01.2022 News from NSW ...Attorney General Mark Speakman said the extraordinary measures are only to be used to respond to the threat of COVID-19, and would allow the Commissioner to prioritise vulnerable offenders and others who pose a low risk to the community for consideration for conditional release. https://www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au//prison-inmates-/

21.01.2022 COVID accelerated the long-awaited introduction of tablet computers into NSW prisons, allowing inmates to better communicate with family, learn and rehabilitate. The technology is secure and instead of being connected to the internet, the tablets are only able to connect to approved information, including things like online learning, news and rehabilitation services. Ordinarily, phone calls were restricted to a few minutes and only allowed at approved times, by appointment, ...in a communal area. But inmates with tablets can use them to call approved friends and family from the privacy of their cell https://www.abc.net.au//tablet-computers-to-priso/12895870 See more

21.01.2022 Preliminary results of a nation-first trial of new electronic monitoring technology to track high risk family violence perpetrators across Tasmania has resulted... in a significant drop in family violence involving those offenders. The electronic monitoring devices are fitted to an offender's ankle and track their movements by GPS so they're excluded from entering certain areas where the victim resides or works. Victims of family violence could also voluntarily opt into the trial, where they were provided a small portable device with duress capability to prompt early police intervention where there was potential for a breach of a current Family Violence Order. The preliminary results involving more than 70 offenders, suggest a 70% reduction of assaults, 80% reduction of threats, 89% decrease in allegations of emotional abuse, and 100% decrease in reports of stalking. Additionally, the trial experienced a 7% reduction of family violence incidents across the state and a staggering 82% decrease in high-risk family violence incidents. "Tasmania Police is strongly committed to tackling family violence in our community, and we look forward to the outcome of the independent review of the trial, which is being undertaken by the Tasmanian Institute of Law Enforcement Studies by the end of the year," said Acting Inspector Felicity Boyd. If you or someone you know is experiencing family violence, please call the Family Violence Response and Referral Line by calling 1800 633 937, or by calling Triple Zero (000) in emergency situations.

19.01.2022 Smarter Justice - were better at keeping Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in PRISON than in SCHOOL or UNI...

18.01.2022 Confirmed COVID-19 case in Victorian prison. Calls for Low risk inmates and those on remand to be released. Prisoners feel they are sitting ducks - With overcrowding, its impossible to protect yourself and self-isolate. These people are peoples brothers and sisters, mothers and friends and they deserve to be safe. https://7news.com.au//coronavirus-enters-victorian-prison-

17.01.2022 I held establish, and chair the Prisoners Legal Service in Tasmania. We run clinics for prisoners and assist them, and their families, with parole applications, accessing health care, advocacy, and now a preventive lawyering scheme. The preventive lawyering scheme will enable us to work with prisoners before they are released, and help them come back into the community without outstanding legal issues like unpaid fines, court orders, outstanding warrants and other impediment...s to them moving ahead with with lives. We now have DGR status so would love to have a donation from you to help us with this ground breaking programme which no other legal service in Tasmania delivers to prisoners. Please consider assisting us in this work

17.01.2022 This is a sensible proposal and one we back for Tasmania.

17.01.2022 OPEN LETTER CALLING FOR SAFE RELEASE OF ADULTS AND CHILDREN FROM PRISONS AND YOUTH DETENTION CENTRES AND PROTECTION OF THEIR RIGHTS AND HEALTH IN THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ---- AUGUST 202---- Recent positive COVID-19 cases in prisons and youth detention centres in Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales signal the growing threat of this virus to the lives of detained people across Australia. It demonstrates that attempts by Australian governments to preven...Continue reading

16.01.2022 The Australian Lawyers Alliance has called upon the government to control the numbers of defendants called to proceedings at the Tasmanian Magistrates Court in light of the coronavirus pandemic, state president Fabiano Cangelosi said. "We would also like to see home detention considered as an option for older detainees who are on remand or have been sentenced. A Justice Department spokesperson said the Magistrates Court was triaging large court lists to reduce the number of people required to be in the same location at the same time and enforcing a degree of separation between people in court proceedings. //www.examiner.com.au/story/6681513/demand-for-action-on-coronavirus-risk-in-courts/?cs=7661

15.01.2022 INDEPENDENT MLC IVAN DEAN SAYS NEW NORTHERN PRISON MUST ADDRESS TASMANIA'S RECIDIVISM RATE. Windermere independent MLC Ivan Dean has backed Greg Barns SC's view that the new correctional facility in the North should take a vastly different approach to Risdon, but believes Westbury is a better location for it than Launceston. Mr Dean, a former Tasmania Police Commander, said the state's corrections system was clearly not working the way it should, with recidivism rates rising ...to the second highest in the nation at close to 50 per cent. He was supportive of the rehabilitative focus advocated by Mr Barns, the chair of the Prisoners Legal Service Tasmania. "Any prison built today should be built in such a way that we've got a strong emphasis towards rehabilitation and working with prisoners to try to ensure that when they come out of prison, they're a much better person. "I'm not sure our current system provides for that "We need to approach this in the century that we're in, rather than looking back behind us at something that hasn't worked," Mr Dean said. "If you turn a prisoner out of a jail with no support, then clearly they'll fall back into criminal activity. These people have got to be provided with the back-up support - such as housing on release - to give them something to live for, something to achieve." The state government was yet to release detailed plans regarding what the new prison would consist of, although last year Attorney-General Elise Archer told Estimates it would be "designed to create increased opportunities for prisoners to find meaningful work on release". Mr Dean said these details should be released to allow the public to play its part in designing a prison that suited the needs of the community, including input from justice experts.See story for more.... https://www.examiner.com.au//bring-justice-approach-into/

15.01.2022 https://edition.cnn.com//inmates-released-jail-/index.html

14.01.2022 MEDIA RELEASE: LEGAL SECTOR - OPEN LETTER CALLING FOR URGENT RELEASE OF PEOPLE FROM ADULT AND YOUTH PRISONS AS COVID-19 SPREADS RAPIDLY IN PRISONS As positive COVID cases in prisons and youth detention centres escalate in Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales, theres an urgent need for Government action to protect adults and young people in prison. For the third time hundreds of legal sector professionals and...Continue reading

14.01.2022 Open letter to Australian governments on COVID-19 and the criminal justice system. We the undersigned are seeking your immediate action to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 in the Australian criminal justice system, especially prisons and youth detention centres. We know that COVID-19 spreads quickly in closed spaces and prisons are commonly epicentres for infectious diseases. This is particularly a concern where there is overcrowding, with most Australian prisons ...operating at over 100% of their design capacity. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has identified overcrowding as a structural problem that contributes to the spread of infections in prisons. In addition, many people who are incarcerated also have chronic conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and asthma, which makes them vulnerable to more severe forms of COVID-19. Research on other diseases, such as tuberculosis (TB) and hepatitis, shows rates of infection among incarcerated populations are up to 100 times higher than outside of prisons. It is only a matter of time before COVID-19 breaks out in our prisons and youth detention centres. This will then have a substantial flow-on effect to the community, including community health services. People are continually churning in and out of prisons and then being released to their communities. Significantly, 77% of people entering and 33% of people in prison are unsentenced and 30% of sentenced prisoners are expected to serve less than 12 months. #CoronavirusPrisons #CoronavirusPrisons #COVIDcriminaljustice #COVIDprisons https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/9OurC81Zm7fD0rmJC17noC

14.01.2022 https://www.examiner.com.au//more-changes-urged-to-reduce/ Child strip search data shows effect of changes, but legal and Aboriginal groups urge end to practice. Aboriginal and legal rights groups are urging the Justice Department to further introduce scanning technology rather than carry out full or partial body searches on children when they enter custody in Tasmania.... Figures obtained by The Examiner show 102 children - including three aged 13 and 26 aged 14 - were strip searched at either the Launceston or Hobart police stations between January 1 and May 26, 2019, before new risk assessment guidelines were introduced. After that, a further 71 children were strip searched by the end of the year, while 105 underwent pat downs. Aboriginal children continued to be vastly over-represented in the strip searching figures, making up 27 per cent of children before the changes and 25 per cent after. Aboriginal Tasmanians were 4.6 per cent of the total population in the latest Census. The new guidelines from May 27 included the assessment of youth as low, moderate or high risk of harm to themselves or others to determine what level of search was required, rather than a mandatory strip search.

14.01.2022 One COVID positive corrections officer - six Victorian prisons in lockdown - ZERO prisoners (ppls brothers, fathers, sisters & mothers) able to protect themselves from a deadly virus. Imagine not paying driving fines and ending up dying in prison... https://www.google.com.au//46817b53f88ab8e5604ca27eb12e705c

13.01.2022 Delios Inquest - Comments from Greg Barns SC Chair Prisoners Legal Service Once again the gross inadequacy of Tasmanias prison system has been revealed. Many prisoners suffer from mental illness, including acute mental illness. The current system simply warehouses them with no support or aftercare when they leave prison. We urge the government to ensure Coroner Coppers suggestions become a reality quickly. Prisoners in Tasmania are not treated with humanity and respect ...Continue reading

13.01.2022 Reports from family members the Prison is in lockdown - 21 staff absent!!!!

11.01.2022 https://www.abc.net.au//coronavirus-covid-19-iran/12073630

11.01.2022 Inmates feel "Like a sitting duck!" If COVID19 gets into the prisons system, many will not be able to protect themselves. It is a basic human right to be able to escape this virus, which is why we are all in our houses in isolation, inmates don't have that luxury... https://www.abc.net.au//coronavirus-jail-outbreak/12197420

11.01.2022 Supreme Court (Vic) rules govt breached its duty of care protecting inmates from Covid19 https://www.lawyersweekly.com.au//28169-vic-supreme-court-

11.01.2022 Department of Justice figures show the monthly average prison population in Tasmania, excluding the Wilfred Lopes Centre, over the last six months has fluctuated between 660 and 680 prisoners. The average population was 661 in February, 680 in March, 676 in April, 663 in May, 660 in June and 668 in July. But prison populations in NSW and Victoria have seen a decline in inmate numbers over the pandemic period.... The decrease in remand entries was attributed to a dip in the number of charges laid by police, more favourable bail decisions by both police and courts, and an increase in people released from remand to wait for their court case in the community. The sentenced prisoner population also declined after court hearings were reduced. https://www.examiner.com.au//prisoner-numbers-stable-thr/

10.01.2022 This emergency provision is concerned with protecting vulnerable inmates and releasing prisoners who pose a low risk to the community. Attorney-General Mark Speakman said the legislation was designed to protect the health of inmates and frontline prison workers as well as the good order and security of prisons. Freeing up prison space through the early release of prisoners will enable the remaining prisoners to be isolated, to prevent or control an outbreak. It also allows ...the health needs of remaining inmates to be better addressed. We have seen what happens without this action in prisons overseas: infection spreads rapidly and foments unrest among prisoners. In Italy, prisoner fears that they faced a death sentence because of COVID-19 resulted in riots in 23 Italian prisons and the deaths of 12 prisoners. https://theconversation.com/explainer-how-will-the-emergenc

10.01.2022 A former detainee claims he was sexually, mentally, and violently abused while in custody at Ashley Youth Detention Centre. The Northern Tasmanian man, who cannot legally be named, was sent to the facility when he was 11 and said he was housed with criminals as old as 23. Now, he's threatening to take the state government to court.... "I was a child, locked away with savages," he said. "When I first went there, there was upwards of 80 kids, and no cameras on site. "There were just massive problems in terms of providing a safe place for children. Back then, it was run by families, and anyone who worked there it wasn't just them, it was their wife, their brother, their cousin working there too - there was no accountability." He claimed he was bashed and raped, and subjected to physical and psychological trauma during his time at the facility, roughly between 2001 and 2007. While many of his fellow detainees have since accepted funds through the National Redress Scheme, the alleged victim rejected the offer from the Tasmanian government. "I know about a dozen people from Ashley who accepted about $100,000," he said. "But you have to sign a waiver, which stops you from taking any further action against the institutions." //www.examiner.com.au/story/6883300/i-was-a-child-locked-away-with-savages/?cs=95

10.01.2022 New study finds Aboriginal peoples are twice as likely to receive a sentence of imprisonment - it’s not just the US that has systemic racism happening! https://www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au//aboriginal-peop/

09.01.2022 The Prisoners Legal Service is now a registered, not-for-profit organisation. If you believe all persons should have access to legal advice, please donate and help us continue our important work within the Tasmanian Prison System. Any donations are now tax deductible.

09.01.2022 Health and ageing of Australia's prisoners. The population of older prisoners in Australia is growing at a greater rate than the population of younger prisoners. Since 2009, the number of older prisoners in Australia grew from around 5,300 to 9,600that is, a growth of 79%. *In Tas only 6% of inmates are released with a referral to an Alcohol and other drug treatment or counselling service. ... See the report here: - https://www.aihw.gov.au//health-and-ageing-of-austral/data

07.01.2022 MEDIA RELEASE 25 September 2020 WRAP is pleased to announce that Mr Greg Barns SC will visit Deloraine on 18th October 2020 to give a presentation on the Northern Regional Prison: No new prison: a smart justice perspective. Greg is Chair of the Prisoners Legal Service and is a Patron of the recently launched national campaign, the Justice Reform Initiative. ... We are very interested in recent developments flowing from the Justice Reform Initiative and have been discussing the potential for Northern Tasmania to adopt a more enlightened approach to prisoner rehabilitation. Tasmania currently has one of the highest recidivism rates in Australia. If the Government is really interested in reducing recidivism and creating a safer Tasmania, a replica of Risdon Prison is the last thing that should be built. It is an outdated last century approach which has failed the community and will continue to do so. There is scope for the prison system to have a presence in Northern Tasmania that would see economic benefit flow to communities across the North. This would result in Risdon’s appalling conditions being alleviated and a dramatic reduction in recidivism rates, meaning a safer Tasmania. We are really excited that Greg has accepted our invitation to come and speak to the community about that potential. said Linda Poulton. Meander Valley Councillors and the Premier, the Attorney General, The Leader of the Opposition, The Leader of the Greens, Lyons MPs and the representative from the Legislative Council for the area (the seat of McIntyre) have been invited to attend. There are limited seats so we strongly encourage people who would like to attend to secure a ticket early. All queries relating to the venue and ticketing: [email protected] All queries relating to the presentation content to Greg Barns SC: 0419 691 846 Linda Poulton (President) WRAP Inc Westbury 0425 807 716 www.westburyregionagainsttheprison.org

07.01.2022 New study finds Aboriginal peoples are twice as likely to receive a sentence of imprisonment - its not just the US that has systemic racism happening! https://www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au//aboriginal-peop/

05.01.2022 The Custodial Inspector has confirmed what the PLS has been saying for many years. There is little rehabilitation for prisoners in Tasmania and the mistreatment of prisoners through lockdowns must end. The PLS will continue to advocate on these issues and we invite prisoners and their families to share their experiences with us so we can fight for a humane, smart prison system. TASMANIA MERCURY Leaked report slams Tasmanias prison system for multiple failures...Continue reading

05.01.2022 We need to stop the virus! https://www.theguardian.com//coronavirus-uk-prisons-releas

02.01.2022 STATEMENT FROM PRISONERS LEGAL SERVICE TASMANIA ON COVID-19 AND THE RISK TO PRISONERS The Prisoners Legal Service believes that prisoners who are elderly ,and other prisoners who suffer poor health must be removed immediately from Risdon, Ron Barwick, and Mary Hutchinson prisons. They must be accommodated by way of home detention. Further given the limitations now on family and friends visiting prisoners, and the cessation of rehabilitation programs such as education classes..., the Tasmanian Government needs to consider whether other prisoners, particularly those on remand, could be released from prison and bailed, or alternatively also released into home detention. Prisoners are a high risk group of infection and their health must be protected. Greg Barns Chair Jonathan Budgeon Deputy Chair

02.01.2022 Wagner Shostakovich Sculthorpe Beethoven Brahms Whitlam Ken Wriedt Mental Health all came up in the interview

01.01.2022 The Prisoners Legal Service would like to extend its heart felt congratulations to Chair and barrister, Greg Barns on his appointment as Senior Counsel. Greg is a fierce advocate for justice and selfless in his pro bono work for the community.

01.01.2022 Ella Haddad MP Shadow Minister for Justice Shadow Minister for Corrections Shadow Attorney General ... Review of court and prison system urgently needed. Government has a duty of care to keep all Tasmanians safe, including inmates and staff Courts and tribunals must defer appropriate, non-urgent cases Technology must be used in the wider justice system The operation of Tasmanias prison and court systems must be reviewed in light of coronavirus risks. Shadow Corrections Minister Ella Haddad said other jurisdictions are already looking at ways to reduce the risk of an outbreak of the virus in custodial settings. For example, New South Wales has announced emergency powers giving the corrections minister authority to release or parole inmates who are nearing the end of their sentence and who do not present a threat to the community, Ms Haddad said. Other jurisdictions are looking at similar measures and Tasmania must do the same. These are extraordinary times and all institutions must adapt to deliver their services in a way that makes protecting public health the first priority. At a time when public health experts are advising that social distancing is essential to slow the spread of coronavirus, we need to extend those measures to include our overcrowded correctional system. History tells us that prisons are commonly epicentres for infectious diseases and we know that Risdon Prison and other Tasmanian correctional facilities are already operating at or near capacity. This makes it very difficult to contain the spread of coronavirus within the prison population and protect staff and inmates. Ms Haddad said the states wider justice system should follow the lead of New South Wales and defer cases that do not involve someone in custody. It is a good start that jury trials in the Tasmanian Supreme Court are temporarily suspended, but more needs to be done to assess other operations of the Supreme Court and the operation of the Magistrates Court and tribunals. We also call on judges and magistrates to consider bail as a first option for non-violent offenders who would otherwise be put at unnecessary risk by being incarcerated in light of coronavirus. We further call on them to provide support for government and community workers who supervise people on bail, on parole and in home detention to do so remotely as much as possible. We are fortunate that technology is available to help achieve this for many of our court proceedings. Other jurisdictions are considering these measures in these unprecedented times and we need to do the same. More information: Sam Meyer 0438 210 468