media release DEATHS IN CUSTODY WATCH COMMITTEE (WA) Inc. 119 MATHIESON RD ASCOT WA 6104 Tel: 61 (0)8 9277-1533 Fax: 61 (0)8 9478-4204 E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] URL: http://www.omen.net.au/~dicwc Thursday, 19 August 1999 Casuarina Prison claims another life. The Deaths In Custody Watch Committee was today deeply saddened by the news of a young Aboriginal man's death in Casuarina Prison. "We are saddened by this news but not surprised." Said Kath Mallott, Executive Officer of the Watch Committee. "The majority of inmates at Casuarina Prison have been subjected to a 23 hour lock-down since Christmas Day and the Ministry of Justice has ignored warnings about the detrimental effect that this is having on prisoners' physical and psychological well- being." "The majority of prisoners had no involvement in the riot, but since Christmas Day, they have been punished in the most draconian fashion imaginable." Said Ms Mallott. "To be confined to a small space for such a long period of time and to be forced to exercise in a narrow corridor inside the prison is bound to have a horrendous effect on a prisoner's ability to cope with depression." "The Ministry Of Justice and Attorney General Foss have repeatedly stated that they make no apology for the horrific regime imposed but it was mismanagement at the highest levels that caused the prison overcrowding which was the major contributing factor to the riot." "Casuarina Prison was originally designed to accommodate approx 360 prisoners but since Christmas Day the figure has exploded to approx 700 per day." "The Watch Committee calls upon the Ministry of Justice to return Casuarina prisoners to a normal regime and we call on the Minister to immediately introduce legislation to reduce the shameful incarceration rates in Western Australia." Media Contact: Kath Mallott: work 08 92771533 or mobile 0419930375 To monitor and work to ensure the effective implementation of the recommendations of the Royal Commission Into Aboriginal Deaths In Custody Deaths In Custody Watch Committee (WA) Inc) 119 Mathieson Road, REDCLIFFE, Western Australia, 6104 "The beginning of the cause of deaths in custody does not occur within the confines of police and prison cells or in the minds of the victims. Initially it starts in the minds of those who allow it to happen." Elder Dr. Jack Davis (OA, MBE) * [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.omen.net.au/~dicwc * ------------------------------------------------------- RecOzNet2 has a page @ http://www.green.net.au/recoznet2 and is archived at http://www.mail-archive.com/ To unsubscribe from this list, mail [EMAIL PROTECTED], and in the body of the message, include the words: unsubscribe announce or click here mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20announce This posting is provided to the individual members of this group without permission from the copyright owner for purposes of criticism, comment, scholarship and research under the "fair use" provisions of the Federal copyright laws and it may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner, except for "fair use." RecOzNet2 is archived for members @ http://www.mail-archive.com/
