More staff employed for suicidal prisoner

Press, 25 June 1983, Page 2

More staff employed for suicidal prisoner

Three extra officers have been taken on at Christchurch Women’s Prison to help staff cope with the demands of a suicidal prisoner. Earlier this month, the prisoner was transferred to Sunnyside Hospital after she attempted to chew stitches out of her slashed wrists. She was not permitted to remain in Sunnyside because the hospital does not have security facilities. There is no secure facility for psychiatrically disturbed women prisoners in any part of New Zealand. The prison superintendent, Miss Fleur Grenfell, said yesterday that since she had returned to the

prison the woman had made several more attempts on her life, even though two officers were rostered to watch her every hour of the day and night. Every effort was made to keep dangerous objects away from the woman, but “when you want to injure yourself you do not need anything,” she said. Miss Grenfell said that the prisoner was getting “humane care," but the situation was affecting the normal running of the prison. The Justice Department had given approval for the prison’s staffing establishment to be increased by three officers and an extra

shift was being put on each day, she said. The Health Department has agreed in principle to provide for psychiatrically disturbed female prison inmates, possibly at Lake Alice Hospital, according to the Wellington reporter of “The Press.” The recent suicide and arson attempts at Christchurch Women’s Prison had highlighted the need for special facilities, said the Minister of Justice, Mr McLay, yesterday. But a final solution could still be some time away as negotiations with the staff involved would be needed on the proposed changes, he said.