Latest outrage in Berrimah Prison

My visit to Rob Inder-Smith in Berrimah Prison today was even more restricted than being made to sit at table 10 last time.

Rob had been moved to B Block to do a week in solitary confinement.

His crime? He wrote five letters to the NT Ombudsman, sealed them in envelopes addressed to the Ombudsman.

Prisoners’ letters to the Ombudsman are not to be opened or read by the prison censors. This is law.

It seems Berrimah screws don’t follow their own rules. They opened and read Rob’s letters to the Ombudsman – an act which is illegal.

Assumedly, Rob informed the Ombudsman of something he wasn’t happy about, as his right, but the nosey screws, instead of doing their job of taking care of the inmates by simply posting the letters, read them, kept his correspondence and punished him for daring to exercise his rights.

They stuck him in solitary for a week, cut off his phone calls, reduced his previously 2 times 1 hour contact visits weekly to 1 half hour non-contact visit (behind glass via phone).

Anyone concerned at this blatant and illegal abuse of power is urged to ring, write or email the NT Ombudsman voicing their concerns at this example of illegal activities by Berrimah’s prison guards.

Ombudsman of the Northern Territory
GPO Box 1344
Darwin, NT, 0801
Phone: (08) 8999 1818
Freecall: 1800 806 380
Fax: (08) 8999 1828
Email: nt.ombudsman@nt.gov.au