There is not much Gren Bell does not know about Corrections. Having worked for the Prisons Service for some 45 years, Gren is now Senior Inspector of Corrections. This role is responsible, among other things, for overseeing investigations into incidents that occur “behind the wire”.
“Prison is a very unique environment. It would be fair to say that there are more unsettling incidents in everyday prison life than would occur in most other communities of a similar size. It is my responsibility to investigate the circumstances of these,” says Gren.
This includes investigating deaths in custody - both from natural and unnatural causes.
“When a death occurs it triggers a whole series of investigations in order to determine the cause of death, the circumstances around it and what, if anything, could be done to help prevent the same thing happening again.”
All deaths in prisons are subject to coroner and police investigations. In addition to these, the Department does its own investigations, which are carried out by the Corrections Inspectorate. The Ombudsman also monitors the conduct and outcome of the inspector’s investigation and has the right to carry out its own investigation of the incident.
The Corrections Inspectorate is independent of prison operations and by law is required to report directly to the Chief Executive.
Every investigation conducted by the Corrections Inspectorate examines all the relevant legislation, standards and policies and procedures that applied to the management of the prisoner both before and after the time of death.
“This is particularly relevant with investigations around suicides in prison. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to stop someone who is intent on ending their life, but the timely, proactive and professional behaviour of prison staff often prevents prisoners harming themselves and we look at ways to help support and develop this,” says Gren.
By law, the Inspectorate has access to all areas and documentation within a prison, as well as the right to talk to anyone who may help, whether staff, prisoners or visitors.
“There are no ‘no go’ areas for the inspector in the course of carrying out a death in custody investigation,” Gren says.
“One thing that is fundamental to any investigation of this kind is that it is conducted in a compassionate manner - we are very concerned that in arriving at the facts of the matter we do not impinge on what is already an emotional time for the friends and family of the prisoner involved.”
While the coroner’s inquest will establish the cause of death, the inspector’s report forms one of the principal pieces of evidence considered at the inquest and in many cases will form the basis of the coroner’s findings.
Once finalised, the report goes to the Chief Executive and to the Department of Corrections Assurance Board (Audit Committee). The Assurance Board meets every two months to advise the Chief Executive on risk-related matters and to ensure that the Department is meeting its governance responsibilities.
“The result is a thorough and comprehensive review of how the Department conducted its legal obligations and responsibilities in respect of the fair, safe, secure and humane treatment of the deceased during his or her sentence,” adds Gren.
“There is a significant level of both internal and external scrutiny of the Inspectorate’s reports. It is a matter of some pride to me that the importance of the unit’s investigations and the validity of its findings have withstood that scrutiny.”
The Inspectorate carries out an average of 15 to 20 such investigations per year. In 2005/06 there were eight unnatural deaths in custody (0.11 per 100 prisoners). Of this eight, six were deaths by suicide. The Corrections system deals with a high proportion of people with a propensity to self-harm in prison. However, the number of suicides in New Zealand prisons remains low when compared to other international jurisdictions.
“I like to think that the Inspectorate’s investigations have contributed in some small way to that situation,” says Gren.
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