tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post4207647228612878514..comments2024-03-19T22:42:04.062+13:00Comments on Bowalley Road: The Price of Privatising PrisonsChris Trotterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09081613281183460899noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-62877569558619148442011-03-18T12:40:17.895+13:002011-03-18T12:40:17.895+13:00Well it didn't take long for double-bunking to...Well it didn't take long for double-bunking to change mindsets.<br /><br />An episode of "The Almighty Johnsons" on TV3 treated it as a given that if a young man went to prison that he'd be raped.<br /><br />Our Corrections minister has said of looters: "I hope they go to jail for a long time - with a cellmate."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-57311291991013622792011-01-03T17:19:53.134+13:002011-01-03T17:19:53.134+13:00What happens within prison walls reflects on what ...What happens within prison walls reflects on what happens outside of them. <br /><br />Adding a profit motive to the prison system gives lobbying incentive to irrationally extend sentencing. Prisons in the USA are full of people who should never have been there.<br /><br />Understaffing creates a lord of the flies environment where inmates create gangs to depend on each other for security against violence.<br /><br />Overcrowding also increases violence. "Double bunking" leads slowly but surely to a culture of prison rape which then extends outside of prison walls. Prison rape is an expected part of prison life in the USA and other some other countries.<br /><br />The decline in New Zealand's prisons comes from decline in economics, rationality and empathy. We're in an economic mess because of prior governments' mismanagement, there is a loss of rationality over the connectedness of treatment of prisoners and how they behave when released, and there is a weakening of empathy.<br /><br />Prisons shouldn't be "double bunked" and thinking about changing inmates' behaviour after they're released should be at the forefront.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-82428207926006205012010-12-21T20:15:20.630+13:002010-12-21T20:15:20.630+13:00Excellent post Chris.Excellent post Chris.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-14868448249946252212010-12-21T12:17:53.734+13:002010-12-21T12:17:53.734+13:00" that psychopath is more likely to crack the..." that psychopath is more likely to crack the champers to celebrate the death of a crim than order an order an inquiry"<br /><br />"By their words and deeds, and without realising that they are doing so, these self-characterising narrators construct for us a window into their souls"<br /><br />IndeedAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-50132765772052555832010-12-21T12:16:01.382+13:002010-12-21T12:16:01.382+13:00Chris,
I thought the running of Mt Eden privately...Chris, <br />I thought the running of Mt Eden privately was a great success judging by the comments of staff, prisoners and local iwi.<br />Finacially too.<br />If they happen to perform that good work with 30% less staff, then isnt that a good thing?<br />The Public Service isnt always right and you must admit there are many ways of acheiving outcomes.<br />I am also concerned at the repeated instances of bribery, corruption and collusion between current Prison Officers and prisoners.<br />You also draw a long bow citing an incident in Uk and saying it will happen here.<br />It seems you are just parroting the usual Private bad Public good meme without considering that either are actually still staffed by NZers.<br />Look at this comment you made<br />" must know that Serco’s loss-leading tender can only be recouped at the expense of the prisoners in its "care". <br />Reference to prove this please.<br /><br />Also the experience in Mt Eden was that because of the savings they had extra funds for courses and rehabilitation for Prisoners.<br />Youve never read the review have you?<br />Perhaps you should, but take those blinkers off first-heh<br />Merry Christmas, whilst you are almost always wrong I enjoy your writing!<br />DavidAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-40257104397523119512010-12-19T10:04:22.543+13:002010-12-19T10:04:22.543+13:00To: Mark Wilson & Heine
There is a literary d...To: Mark Wilson & Heine<br /><br />There is a literary device known as the "self-characterising narrator" - which allows the author to give the reader a clear view of the character's moral quality through his or her own, unwitting, revelations.<br /><br />By their words and deeds, and without realising that they are doing so, these self-characterising narrators construct for us a window into their souls.<br /><br />Without the assistance or intervention of an author, Mr Wilson and Mr Heine have, through their comments, volunteered us a glimpse of their own souls.<br /><br />Not a pretty picture.Chris Trotterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09081613281183460899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-38429173035269036392010-12-19T06:04:01.032+13:002010-12-19T06:04:01.032+13:00What did the kid do in the first place to be put i...What did the kid do in the first place to be put in a cell Chris?Just my opinionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16614554113040355062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-80721853016504041702010-12-18T13:15:16.776+13:002010-12-18T13:15:16.776+13:00Even if Serco had a spotless reputation (which it ...Even if Serco had a spotless reputation (which it clearly doesn't have), I would feel a sense of revulsion against the state sub-contracting the exercise of force and compulsion to private organisations.<br /><br />I'm not sure that, philosophically,this practice is any different to the state employing people directly to perform these roles. But I have a strong visceral sense of it being different. <br /><br />Obviously, those who oppose all private enterprise or, at least, any diminution in the current role of the state, will have their own axes to grind on this matter.<br /><br />I am not of their number but still believe that the subcontracting of compulsion is deeply wrong, without quite being able to put my finger on exactly why.<br /><br />Does anyone else share my visceral sense of a taboo being violated and, if so, are they able to provide some sort of philosophic justification for this view.Victornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-63798147560549750422010-12-18T10:24:01.503+13:002010-12-18T10:24:01.503+13:00Glib comment Sanctuary, but in this case probably ...Glib comment Sanctuary, but in this case probably uncomfortably close to the likely outcome.<br /><br />Private prisons are very scary. Main reason is the undermining of longstanding societal trade offs regarding the second most serious sanction that the state can apply to an individual, after capital punishment, –incarceration. <br /><br />The links to the private/military swamp are unsavoury and undesirable for a country with previously good international credentials.<br /><br />The logistics for inmates are just plain cruel. The dark sadistic kiwis don’t care, but those that do, including some from the safety of their keyboards might reflect on two things likely to make it way more likely for them too to come into contact with the ‘Bacon Squadron’ and experience the prison system personally.<br /><br />1. Extended search and surveillance powers are soon to be formally granted to all sorts of government snoops beyond the SIS and special cop squads.<br />2. Organisations defined as ‘terrorist’ under Terrorism Suppression Act 2002, now number over 500. The act prohibits among other things, financial assistance to proscribed groups and individuals. So watch out when buying that pro Palestinian T shirt or signing up out of solidarity for some newsletter. Do it anyway of course! but be aware.<br /><br />The point being the cops will use these powers to take people out of circulation at key times. This is not scaremongering, the NZ state snoops have been caught out abusing their powers many times. Private prisons are all part of the “clampdown” on democracy.Tiger Mountainnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-70188292603418774342010-12-18T09:17:15.176+13:002010-12-18T09:17:15.176+13:00Chris while I laud your concern for social justice...Chris while I laud your concern for social justice when it comes to prisoners who cares?Mark Wilsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-62203713217408319742010-12-17T19:36:00.979+13:002010-12-17T19:36:00.979+13:00"...Sooner than she would wish, Minister Coll..."...Sooner than she would wish, Minister Collins will be presented with an Adam Rickwood of her own..."<br /><br />Judith Collins won't care, that psychopath is more likely to crack the champers to celebrate the death of a crim than order an order an inquiry.Sanctuaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03107330732524823291noreply@blogger.com