Correctional Centres Sexual Assaults
One of the dreadful social crimes faced in every society, is the unlawful, brutal and criminal assaults on prisoners in prison. Most people in society take the view that because they are prisoners “it serves them right” and they turn a blind eye. Within the prison system, some prisoners make a point of executing prison justice, and rock-spiders – pedaeophiles and those found guilty of sexual abuse of children, are especially singled out for brutal homosexual rape.
The prisoners themselves will not report this violation, as they fear further punishment.
The rapes by prisoners are not always flesh on flesh – not relatively gentle like that. The rapes are often extremely violent. I have been a prison chaplain, because I was a minister and had been a parole officer. Hence I have spoken to hundreds of prisoners, many of whom, have been raped by instruments. Anal rape while being held down is often with a broom handle. Sometimes with a toilet brush handle. Sometimes even with lengthen of steel pipe. The tearing of internal skin is only to be imagined.
I have even known in NSW of rapes where a prisoner has been assaulted by other prisoner with a pipe forced up a prisoners anus and barbed wire pushed up the inside of the pipe and then the pipe removed leaving the sharp barbed wire inside the prisoner’s body. The agony of moving with this inside the body and then having it removed cannot be imagined.
Many people say such people deserve this prison punishment. But not all people in prison are guilty of crime. They may be charged with a crime, but have not yet been tried in court. Some are on remand awaiting trial. Young men, perhaps facing serious speeding crimes, are desirable among the pent-up sexual frustration of other prisoners and are highly desirable as homosexual rape victims. So are businessmen charged with corporate fraud and similar white-collar crimes.
Often warders and others within the prison system, would rather have the pent-up sexual tension released upon another prisoner than themselves if they were to interfere. There is often not much by way of intervention. So crime is perpetuated on crime. No-one interested in having a just society can turn a blind eye to what happens here.
That is why I asked the minister concerned with prisons a question in our Parliament. I asked:
“My question without notice is addressed to the Minister for Justice.
Is the Minister aware that on 4 September 2003 President George Bush signed special interest legislation, the Prison Rape Elimination Act, which sets standards for investigating and eliminating rape in prisons, where between 250,000 and 600,000 inmates are raped each year in the United States of America?Does a study show that at least one in four inmates in New South Wales prisons have been raped or sexually assaulted? Minister, what are the actual statistics on how many inmates are raped in New South Wales prisons, gaols and detention centres?
If those statistics are not available, where are they? Minister, in this State is there a confidential process for inmates to report incidences of rape? Is there in place an education, prevention and punishment protocol designed to eliminate the rape of inmates?”
The Hon. JOHN HATZISTERGOS, Minister for Justice replied:
“I am not aware of the bill referred to by Reverend the Hon. Dr Gordon Moyes. If he would provide me with a copy I would be interested in reading it. As in the broader community, sexual assault is a crime wherever it occurs, including in prison.If sexual assault is reported it is handled by the police, not by the Department of Corrective Services. Any statistics on those matters would be in the possession of the police. It is the policy of the department that any criminal conduct that comes to its attention is referred to the police. I do not have those statistics. I will take the remainder of the question on notice and provide an answer.”
I await his reply with interest. There are good reasons why we should have such a Bill as has been brought into the USA Justice system this month, and I intend to see that something more is done.
Even the most guilty criminal has some rights even in prison, and if we who are free in society do not work to protect them, we are guilty as those who perpetuate the crimes inside the walls.
THIS IS GORDON MOYES.
