Prisoner Ombudsman gives views on future of Prisons at QUB Conference
On 27 and 28 January 2010, QUB School of Law hosted a conference on the Devolution of Policing and Justice.
The Prisoner Ombudsman, Pauline McCabe spoke on 28 January, in a session devoted to looking at the challenges for prisons post-devolution.
In her speech the Prisoner Ombudsman highlighted the importance of:
- public education;
- employment;
- family support;
to reduce re-offending and encourage rehabilitation.
Offender Management comments
The Prisoner Ombudsman's Office commented on the NIPS Offender Management Strategy, acknowledging that the proposed Offender Management system was a step in the right direction.
Key points within the strategy, which the Prisoner Ombudsman welcomed, included:
- That clear deadlines have been put in place for every step of an offender's prison sentence, which will help ensure everything is handled in a timely matter.
- The checklist for inductions which will help to make sure that prisoners get the information that they need shortly after they arrive in prison.
- The provision of information to prisoners which will help to make sure that they are well informed about their sentence time and what they can do to shorten it.
- The positive step of providing updates every couple of weeks on how a prisoners sentence is progressing.
- Getting family and friends involved in the Offender Management Programme, which is essential to achieve a positive outcome for prisoner rehabilitation.
- Having a clear release plan in place before the prisoner is released, so that they know where they are going to stay, who their first contact is, and what their probation arrangements will be, which is further evidence of the strategy attempting to provide complete “thorough-care” for the offender.
Internal Complaints Process reduced from 3 stages to 2 stages
The new Prison Rules which came into effect on 1 February 2010 made some welcome changes to the internal complaints process.
Importantly, for prisoners, who found the old process lengthy and cumbersome, there are now only two internal stages, rather than three, after which, if an issue has not been resolved, the prisoner can bring their complaint to the Prisoner Ombudsman.
The new Prison Rules also set out a pivotal role for residential managers in resolving complaints locally.
Prisoner Ombudsman to deal with Visitor Complaints
The new Prison Rules which came into effect on 1 February 2010 set out a new process for dealing with complaints from visitors.
Any visitor to prison can, in the first instance, continue to raise issues or concerns with the local visits manager.
If they are unable to resolve the matter in this way they can then make a complaint to the Prison Ombudsman by using the complaints forms which are available in all visiting areas or by calling the Prisoner Ombudsman freephone on 0800 7836317.
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 our staff, to prisoners and prison staff, to our key stakeholders and to the wider community.
Have a great 2010!
New Committals DVD
During October 2009 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. The DVD is now being used during the induction process for new prisoners at all three establishments.
Christmas Card Competition for Prisoners
In 2008, 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. In 2009, we ran the competition again, this time inviting all prisoners, across Maghaberry, Magilligan and Hydebank Wood, to submit designs.
We accepted entries in any form - a sketch or a drawing, but preferably in colour. Designs with any Christmas-related theme were eligible.
The Prisoner Ombudsman judged entries, and the winning design was made up into the official Office Christmas Card for 2009.
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 Spring 2009 edition of 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 2009. All the poems and short-stories which were submitted have been made into a booklet, which the Prisoner Ombudsman sent inside her 2009 Christmas Cards.
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.”
A reading from the Poetry Booklet was broadcast on 21 December 2009 on BBC Evening Extra and proved a great success.
Prisoner Ombudsman takes on investigation of complaints from prisoners about Probation Services within prison
On 20 May 2009 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 is currently in the process of being reviewed. “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.”
Prisoner Ombudsman comments on Revised Prison Rules
The Prison Rules setting out the internal complaints process were reviewed at the end of 2009 and sent to a wide range of interested parties, including the Prisoner Ombudsman, for views. One proposed change would see complaints handling cut from three to 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 will 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 in June 2009, 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.
