Auckland Prison

Auckland Prison (colloquial and original name Paremoremo Prison, often simply Paremoremo), is a prison facility consisting of a medium security- and a maximum security-prison compound in Paremoremo, North Shore City, New Zealand. The two compounds are separate but located close together in a rural area.

As the only facility of its type in the country, [http://www.corrections.govt.nz/public/aboutus/factsheets/prisons/auckland.html Auckland Prison] (fact sheet from the New Zealand Department of Corrections website)] the maximum security section houses some of the worst criminals in the country, and its old name is still well-known and used throughout New Zealand.

Organisation

Facilities

In addition to the main facility for 645 prisoners, Auckland Prison includes the medium-security Auckland West division, built in 1981 to relieve crowding at other institutions, in particular Mount Eden Prison; a minimum security work and pre-release unit called "Te Mahinga"; and a 60-bed special treatment unit for child sex offenders, called "Te Piriti". While built for around 645 prisoners, overcrowding is a constant problem at Paremoremo at this time (2005), as in all New Zealand jails. [" [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/location/story.cfm?l_id=395&objectid=10352046 Vans ruled out as jail cell crisis deepens] " - "The New Zealand Herald", Wednesday 26 October 2005]

Within the maximum security prison, the section (formerly) referred to as 'D Block' has a particularly harsh reputation.Fact|date=March 2007 Conditions in it are very restrictive, and there are around three prison officers per inmate of the block.

ecurity

Security has been upgraded strongly within the last decades. Rev David Connor, prison chaplain, noted that when he moved to Paremoremo in 1984, a chain-link fence around the medium-security block was all that was required. Now (in 2006), however:

:"...that fence has razor wire on top, and there is a steel fence beyond it and then there is a trip-wire barrier that sets off an alarm, and outside that there is another razor-wire fence."

Prisoners are also strip-searched after visits, and are urine tested, while drug dogs are used to search cells and mailrooms. All phone calls made by prisoners are taped as well. However, drugs are still a regular feature within the prison system, [" [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/specialreport/story.cfm?c_id=1501041&objectid=10370323 Prisoners' drug and alcohol problems rage untreated] " - "The New Zealand Herald", Tuesday 28 February 2006] with 13% of all random drug tests on inmates showing positive in 2007. [" [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/location/story.cfm?l_id=395&objectid=10454632 Prison officer arrested after drugs found in car] " - "The New Zealand Herald", Monday 30 July 2007] Guards however still do not carry guns, and in fact (as of 2006) do not even have access to weapons like pepper spray or tasers. Noting that in case of a serious incident, they have few options but to call the police, correction officers have repeatedly warned that violent inmates are becoming more of a problem (in Paremoremo and the New Zealand corrections system in general)." [http://www.adls.org.nz/profession/lawnews/2004/june12/june13.asp Over one hundred lawyers inside Paremoremo prison] " - Auckland District Law Society Newsletter, Issue No. 20, 2004] [" [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10409999 Prison officers call for weapons after hostage drama at Paremoremo] " - "The New Zealand Herald", Thursday 09 November 2006]

After a serious attack of inmates on a prison guard in July 2007, a member of the staff anonymously complained to the "The New Zealand Herald" about security procedures being inadequate, and called the prison as being more like a 'holiday camp' for prisoners - especially in the case of those considered especially dangerous, alleging that prison management gives in to most of their demands to keep the peace. [" [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/location/story.cfm?l_id=395&objectid=10455045&pnum=2 Prison guard: Paremoremo like a 'holiday camp'] " - "The New Zealand Herald", Wednesday 01 August 2007]

ee also

*List of correctional facilities in New Zealand

References

External links

* [http://www.corrections.govt.nz/public/aboutus/factsheets/prisons/auckland.html Auckland Prison] (Background website on the Department of Corrections website)