Key Takeaways:
- A homicide investigation is underway after a man died in Auckland City Hospital following an incident at the Mt Eden Corrections Facility (MECF)
- The alleged perpetrator has been secured and placed on directed segregation
- Corrections is conducting a full review into the incident, including an investigation by the independent Corrections Inspectorate
- The review will examine the suitability of the victim’s placement in a shared cell and the risk assessments that were done
- Corrections has updated its Not to Double Bunk (NTDB) Policy and is undertaking a review of the Shared Accommodation Cell Risk Assessment (Sacra) process
Introduction to the Incident
The Mt Eden Corrections Facility (MECF) is currently at the center of a homicide investigation after a man died in Auckland City Hospital following an incident at the facility. According to Detective Senior Sergeant Martin Friend, the victim passed away on Tuesday, and police have been conducting inquiries since late November. The alleged perpetrator was immediately secured and placed on directed segregation. The police are working to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident, and the results of a post-mortem examination are pending. The MECF acting general manager, Edith Pattinson, has acknowledged the difficulty and distress caused to the victim’s loved ones and has assured that Corrections is committed to cooperating fully with the police investigation.
The Investigation and Review
The investigation into the man’s death is ongoing, and Corrections is conducting a full review into the incident. This review will include an examination of the suitability of the victim’s placement in a shared cell and the risk assessments that were done. The review will also consider the effectiveness of the Shared Accommodation Cell Risk Assessment (Sacra) process, which is used to assess the compatibility of individuals before they are placed in a shared cell. Pattinson has stated that Corrections is committed to acting on any areas for improvement that are identified during the review. The independent Corrections Inspectorate will also be conducting an investigation into the incident. The Inspectorate’s investigation will provide an independent assessment of the circumstances surrounding the incident and will help to identify any systemic issues that may have contributed to the tragedy.
Shared Cells and Risk Assessments
The use of shared cells at the MECF has been a topic of concern in recent months. RNZ has previously reported that there have been two suspected murders at the prison in the past nine months, both of which involved double-bunked cells. Corrections uses the Sacra tool to review the compatibility of individuals before they are placed in a shared cell. The Sacra tool identifies key risk factors to consider before placing a person in a shared cell, and if a person is deemed not suitable to double bunk, a Not to Double Bunk (NTDB) alert is activated on their profile. However, there have been concerns raised about the effectiveness of the Sacra process, and Corrections has acknowledged that it needs to be reviewed and improved. The review of the Sacra process is currently underway, and Corrections is committed to acting on any changes that are needed.
Corrections’ Response
Corrections has taken steps to address concerns about shared cell risk assessments, including instructing that all assessments must be reviewed within 24 hours of completion to check whether any further or outstanding information has been received. This is because Corrections often receives people from the courts late in the evening, and information can sometimes be limited. The NTDB Policy has also been updated to ensure that staff are better supported in making informed decisions around adding, managing, and removing NTDB alerts. Multi-Disciplinary Team meetings are now required for reviewing and validating NTDB alerts. Corrections’ custodial services commissioner, Leigh Marsh, has confirmed that a review of the Sacra process is underway, and the review will consider the questions asked to inform suitability, the process to determine compatibility, and the review processes relating to Sacra.
Conclusion and Next Steps
The incident at the MECF is a tragic reminder of the risks and challenges associated with managing prisoners in shared cells. Corrections has acknowledged the need for improvement and is committed to acting on any areas for improvement that are identified during the review. The investigation and review are ongoing, and it is expected that the findings will be shared with the victim’s family and the public in due course. In the meantime, Corrections will continue to work to ensure that its processes and procedures are robust and safe, and that prisoners are managed in a way that minimizes the risk of harm to themselves and others. The community will be watching closely as the investigation and review unfold, and it is hoped that the findings will lead to meaningful improvements in the way that prisoners are managed in New Zealand’s correctional facilities.