Warning: This story contains a discussion on suicide.
The women of a Queensland prison are subject to “degrading treatment” due to poor management of hygiene and menstruation, according to a new report.
The state detention inspector has also warned detainees from southern Queensland Correctional Re receiving ruthless clothes.
The watchdog has also raised concerns about male guarding agents monitoring video surveillance cameras where prisoner women can be seen undressing and using the toilets.
The inspector published this week a new report in women prison, west of Brisbane, who in November 2023 had 289 prisoners.
Tampons, sanitary pads not provided
The inspector focuses on the prison security unit, where women can be detained if they are deemed at risk of suicide or self -harm.
He alleys that there is poor management of hygiene and menstruation in the units, which does not respect the “human conditions” and subjects to women “degrading treatments”.
According to the report, risk assessments are carried out to determine if the prisoner needs suicide resistant clothing and if he is authorized to access underwear.
The inspectors say that during their visit to the site, the women held in the unit wore “safer design clothes”, which is a dress worn like a dress that covers the chest and upper legs.
But he notes that if a woman is not approved to wear underwear or shorts, he is unable to secure a health product when menstruation.
“The security personnel told us that during menstruation, they observed menstrual blood on women, their sheets and in their cells,” said the report.
“The staff told us that they provided health pads to women and advise them to hold the cushion between their legs.
“They recognized that during the times when women can sleep, they cannot do this and even during the day, it is difficult for them to move and keep the cushion in place.”
The report examined the treatment of prisoners in the correctional center in southern Queensland, west of Brisbane. (Supplied: Queensland mediator))
The report indicates that the inspectors have been informed that disposable underwear was provided, but the elastic band would be used for self-harm.
“Tampons are not provided to women either due to the concerns they will be used for self-control,” he said.
“”We were advised at the time of the on -site inspection that the center did not explore any alternative.“”
Safer underwear being designed
The report recommends that the risk assessment process for women has refused access to underwear or shorts includes menstruation management strategies in a hygienic, human and dignified manner.
In response to the report, Queensland Corrective Services (QCS) said that it collaborated with a university to design a safer underwear option that can accommodate sanitary pads.
“At the time of the inspection, the QCs already offered a range of menstruated women’s options evaluated at high risk of suicide or self-harm, with sanitary items distributed if necessary,” they said.
“As a rule, women at risk who lie receive sanitary pads, while the type of underwear provided – regular or paper – depends on the risk profile of the individual.
“Although stamps have a higher risk due to potential use, their provision can always be considered on the basis of an individual evaluation.”
These shorts were bleached for an inmate to resume, although he had several holes and spots. (Supplied: Queensland mediator))
Women seen by men undressing, showering
Concerns have also been raised regarding the observation of women in the security unit.
The report indicates that each cell of the security unit is equipped with video surveillance – giving a breathtaking view of the room, including toilets and showers.
The staff assigned to the unit observe women in accordance with risk assessments.
But the report indicates that the inspectors were informed by the guardian staff that, sometimes, no female person was enrolled in the unit.
“During the inspection period on the spot, we observed the male guard staff monitoring the cameras of the security unit,” he said.
“The women were seen undress / dress and use the toilets and the shower.
“”Inspection officers observed a naked woman, with her image left on the computer screen with an impact on her dignity, her private life and her modesty.“”
This is the table where detainees have health assessments inside the prison. (Supplied: Queensland mediator))
In their response to the report, the QCs recognized that there were cases where male staff can “inadvertently” undressed women.
But they also said that there were “clear expectations” on how the guardian staff should manage the observations of the prisoners of the opposite sex.
“In situations where a woman undresses or uses the toilets while a man (guard officer) watches by video surveillance, the protocol requires that the officer withdraw the image of the instructor and looks away from the instructor while asking the woman to dress,” they said.
The report revealed that poor management of hygiene and menstruation had not complied with human conditions. (ABC News: David Iliffe))
QCS said efforts had been made at Southern Queensland Correctional Center to ensure that at least one personnel member was registered to work in the security unit.
“QCS has a primordial duty of diligence to ensure that risky prisoners of self-control or damage for others are monitored in a physically appropriate manner and via video surveillance,” they said.
“Inadequate observation can lead to tragic results, including avoidable deaths in detention.”
`Ruthless ” clothes distributed
The report also disputes the clothes of the prison.
He specifically recommends that the prison stopped to reissue “worn, torn and stained” clothes ” – and says that a program should be launched to replace these clothes.
The report found that ruthless clothes were sometimes provided to women in the center. (ABC News: Donna Field))
“While on site, we observed women with clothing that would generally be deemed ruthless,” said the report.
“”Some clothing items were torn apart, stained, had holes large enough to pass one hand and were discolored.“”
In QCS’s response to the report, they said that a full examination of the prison clothing stock was underway to identify the clothes that may have to be replaced.
In another statement to the ABC, a spokesperson for the QCS said that he had recognized the importance of ensuring that prisoners were managed in a hygienic, human and dignified manner.
“Substantial work continues to reform women’s experiences in the correctional system, including a current SQCC clothing exam,” they said.
The report praised the use by prison of body scanners to reduce the searches of bands and their commitment to allow women to have their young children with them in the center.
