Joint open letter on ongoing and arbitrary use of 14 day quarantine in prisons

Today, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, legal, human rights and civil liberties organisations wrote to the Acting Premier raising concerns about the ongoing use of 14 day quarantine in prisons.

At a time when there is no community transmission of Covid-19 in Victoria, it is arbitrary and inappropriate for every person entering prison to be subject to 14 days in ‘quarantine’ regardless of Covid-19 risk. ‘Quarantine’ in prisons is too often code for solitary confinement, which is a destructive practice known to inflict long term, irreversible harm.

In the joint open letter, signatories called on the Victorian Government to:

• reduce the number of people being funnelled into prisons, instead of putting people at risk of being subjected to practices that could amount to solitary confinement; and

• adopt a proportionate, human rights-compliant response to Covid-19 in prisons based on robust health advice, which should include consideration of less restrictive measures.

The joint open letter – which can be accessed here – was endorsed by the Law Institute of Victoria, the Federation of Community Legal Centres, Criminal Bar Association, Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service, Human Rights Law Centre, Fitzroy Legal Service, Mental Health Legal Centre, Law and Advocacy Centre for Women and Liberty Victoria.

Media contact:

Evan Schuurman, Media and Communications Manager, 0406 117 937.