Corrections sat on report

Corrections withheld a report linking double bunking in prisons with gang activity for three years, until a prisoner lobbied for its release.

The 2015 review of double bunking at Northland Region Corrections Facility (NRCF) was released, with redactions, following an Ombudsman’s ruling in December 2018.

A Corrections spokesperson said the department decided to withhold it in 2015 because it contained security information relating to prison infrastructure, and the concern its release would ‘‘hinder the flow of information for future similar reviews’’.

It was understood to be a prisoner who brought the matter to the attention of the Ombudsman, the spokesperson said.

The report identified a perception among staff and prisoners that double bunking ‘‘facilitated gang-related activities’’, and quantitative data that found there had been an approximate 10 per cent increase in gang membership since double bunking was expanded.

A staff member at NRCF, who spoke to Stuff on condition of anonymity, said double bunking was ‘‘much more unsafe’’ for prisoners and staff because of the sheer volume of inmates that could be kept in a unit.

The staff member also said since the report was done, the majority of cells at the prison had been converted for double bunking.

They also said a prisoner could also be placed ‘‘on misconduct’’ if they refused to double bunk – a claim that Corrections said it was unable to respond to without more information.

Double bunking is common in western countries, usually in response to sharply rising prisoner numbers. It was expanded in New Zealand from 2009.

Corrections chief custodial officer Neil Beales said the cost of building single-cell facilities to accommodate the prison muster would be ‘‘prohibitively expensive for the taxpayer’’.

The practice was not necessarily a causal factor for violence in prisons, although it could exacerbate certain situations, Beales said. ‘‘I think everybody would like to see a day when we don’t necessarily have to double bunk any more.

The overwhelming view from most people is that in an ideal world we’d like to see prison numbers drop significantly over time, so that we can reduce the use of double bunking.’’

Beales said the prison muster had dropped below 10,000 inmates and it was hoped the trend would continue.