Prisoner Ombudsman meets again with all Political Parties
During January and February 2010 the Prisoner Ombudsman conducted a further series of meetings with all political parties to discuss, among other issues, their thoughts on the future of prisons post-devolution, the role of the Office of Prisoner Ombudsman and the importance of it being placed on a statutory footing.
The Prisoner Ombudsman was pleased that the Hillsborough Agreement of 5 February 2010 included reference to the need for a review of the conditions of detention, management and oversight of all prisons; a comprehensive strategy for the management of offenders as well as the need for the Prisoner Ombudsman’s powers to be reviewed.
Click here to read the Prisoner Ombudsman statement issued on day of Hillsborough agreement.
Diversiton calendar
The Prisoner Ombudsman was happy to join with Diversiton and produce this calendar, which is a practical resource as each month includes details of all the main religious and secular dates - including bank holidays.
As well as all of this, the calendar is an ideal way to promote our commitment to diversity and inclusion – to staff, to clients and to the wider community.
Have a great 2010!
New Committals DVD
During October the Ombudsman filmed a DVD about the work of the office.
The DVD will be shown to all new committals and will explain the role of the Ombudsman, how to make a complaint and what can be expected from the office. It is hoped the DVD will be available for use, during the induction process for new prisoners at all three establishments, before the end of 2009.
Christmas Card Competition for Prisoners
Last year prisoners at Hydebank Wood worked
with the staff of the Prisoner Ombudsman’s office
to design and hand-make the Prisoner Ombudsman’s
Christmas cards. This year we are inviting all
prisoners, across Maghaberry,
Magilligan and Hydebank Wood,
to submit designs for the 2009
Christmas card.
We will accept entries in any form - a sketch or a drawing, but preferably in colour. Designs with any Christmas-related theme are eligible.
The Prisoner Ombudsman will judge the entries, and the winning design, or designs, will be made up into Christmas cards.
Entries should be submitted to the Prisoner Ombudsman by 11th November.
Ash House Creative Competition
The art competition run by the Prisoner
Ombudsman in Autumn 2008 for young
offenders and juveniles in Hydebank Wood,
was a great success. The entries were
showcased in the last Inside Issues and the
winning entries in each category are now
on permanent display in Hydebank Wood.
In view of the high level of interest and the quality of entries,
we decided to stage another competition. This time it was open
to creative entries of any kind - from poems, short-stories
and craftwork, to pictures, paintings and collages. The theme of the competition, which was open to all Ash House
residents, was “Prison Life”. In all 12 poems and short stories were received and again the quality
of entries was exceptional. The Prison Ombudsman had a difficult
job to choose the top three.
Following much reflection she chose:
First: Kathryn McKeown
Second: Lizzy Milligan
Third: Alison McDonagh
The winners all received their awards at a prize-giving ceremony
in Ash House on 16 October and recently received their prize money.
The top three entries will be displayed at Hydebank Wood and all the
poems and short-stories which were submitted are being made into
a booklet which the Prisoner Ombudsman will send inside her
Christmas Cards this year.
Commenting on the entries, the Prisoner Ombudsman said,
“The poems and short stories provided a very interesting, and at times very moving, insight into womens’ experience of prison. I am so grateful to all of the women who took time to put pen to paper and hope they will feel pleased and proud when they receive copies of the book.”
Prisoner Ombudsman takes on investigation of complaints from prisoners about Probation Services within prison
On 20 May the Prisoner Ombudsman,
Pauline McCabe, and Brian McCaughey,
Director of the Probation Board signed
a protocol allowing the Prisoner
Ombudsman to investigate
complaints from prisoners about
Probation Services within prison.
This is a pilot initiative lasting 12 months,
which will be reviewed before the end
of 2009. “It is very much to the credit
of the Probation Board that they are
taking the initiative to invite my
office to undertake this role,” said the
Prisoner Ombudsman Pauline McCabe
at the signing. “We both anticipate that
this will improve probation services
in prison.”
As with other complaints, prisoners must first take their complaint through the internal Probation Complaint process. If they remain unhappy they can then take the complaint to the Prisoner Ombudsman.
Prisoner Ombudsman comments on Revised Prison Rules
The Prison Rules setting out the internal complaints process have recently been reviewed and sent to a wide range of interested parties, including the Prisoner Ombudsman, for views. One proposed change would see complaints handling cut from threeto two-stages, improving the process. The Prisoner Ombudsman receives numerous calls from prisoners who experience problems with the internal complaints process, including many who feel it is much too cumbersome and takes too long, and has therefore welcomed this proposal.
The Office will also be giving its views on other aspects of the new rules, which are expected to come into effect in early 2010.
The new Prison Rules also allow complaints from visitors that have not been resolved within the prison, to be referred to the Prisoner Ombudsman. The Office welcomes this change as experience and contact with prisoners and their families shows that the existing process is not satisfactory. The new process is designed to be more accessible and user-friendly.
Prisoner Ombudsman comments on Womens Strategy
The Office made a formal submission to Government on its Draft Strategy for the
Management of Women Offenders in Northern Ireland. Welcoming the strategy,
it noted it has the potential to make a huge impact both on the treatment
of women offenders and on offending behaviours.
The Office commented on a number of themes running through the report including:
- The Mental Health and Well Being Issues which need to underpin the strategy;
- The Public Education and Media Communication to complement the strategy;
- Changing Prison Culture;
- The Role of Prison Staff in ensuring the strategy is implemented successfully;
- The opportunities to maximise purposeful activity and employment;
- The potential for practical support and sign-posting for women going through the Criminal Justice System;
- The need to prevent women being imprisoned for defaulting on fines and effective use of non-custodial alternatives.
In conclusion, the Office noted the proposed strategy covers a wide range of reforms. All those involved must cooperate in taking these reforms forward and implementing the Women’s Strategy must be a high priority.
