“.. Senior church leaders have spoken out against conditions at New Plymouth prison, labelling the cramped cells a “source of shame and disgrace”.
They also say a 22-hour-a-day lockdown instituted in the prison is “disturbing.”
The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu – who was imprisoned by dictator Idi Amin – and former Governor-General Sir Paul Reeves visited the city prison last week, along with the Bishop of Taranaki, Philip Richardson.
Their 3 1/2-hour visit was part of a week-long stay in the region, leading up to the consecration of St Mary’s Church as the Taranaki Cathedral.
In a statement released to the Taranaki Daily News yesterday, they commented on the professionalism, courtesy and humanity of the staff they met and the way they related to prisoners.
They found the work of the two chaplains, Sister Margaret and The Rev Judy Clark, a source of inspiration.
They also understood the importance of New Plymouth retaining a local prison, which allows prisoners from the region to maintain links with family.
However, they described the lack of resources which forces a 22-hours-a-day lockdown, as disturbing.
Physical conditions in the older part of the prison attracted special concern, with the bishops saying cramped cells built 150 years ago were “a source of shame and disgrace for us all”.
“In our view, to house men in such claustrophobic conditions for months at a time, some of them as young as 17, many of them still on remand ..
.. is dehumanising for inmates and staff alike.”
go to source/story>>Bishops shocked by New Plymouth prison – national | Stuff.co.nz
