“We welcome the judgment of the South African Constitutional Court in the Ntuli case, which orders that correctional facilities allow prisoners access to computers in cells for educational purposes. This decision prevents South African correctional facilities from instituting policies which ban the use of computers in cells, because such policies infringe upon the rights of prisoners to further education,” said CJC President Mr John Dowd AO KC.
“The recognition of this right in South Africa highlights the importance of ensuring access to education in prisons. It raises questions around what the status of prisoner education in Australia is. Research shows a very significant reduction in recidivism amongst prisoners who had access to education programs during their time incarcerated. We know computers in cells are powerful tools which enable rehabilitation for prisoners through access to education programs and counselling services, helping them re-integrate successfully into society post-release,” said Vice President Ms Elizabeth Evatt AC.
“The CJC proposes the following three recommendations for Australia corrections facilities to adopt, to carry the South African decision into practice in Australia,” said Mr Dowd.
- There must be open access to diverse courses run by educational institutions for people in prison. This would require improved access to computers in cells, hardware such as keyboards and monitors to facilitate studies, and relevant software and access to educational institutions’ white-listed websites.
- In the interim, prisoners should be allowed to purchase books directly from Australia’s largest bookseller, Dymocks. This may be facilitated by the Australasian Correctional Education Association, who might create a list of suitable reading materials, subjects, and prospects for employment. Such processes would promote self-directed learning and allow prisons access to education immediately, before technology is universally available.
- All prisoners should have the support of a welcoming and adequately trained ‘Education Officer’. This will ensure prisoners are made aware of education opportunities, as well as requirements for course completion both within incarceration and beyond.