At the time of the visit, the Management / Separates Unit housed 10 women: one
was housed in the Separates Unit (D Wing), and nine women were housed in the
Management Unit (C Wing). Seven of these women had children who lived in the
community.
One of the women was there for observation, four of the women were segregated
for their own protection, and five were classified as Maximum Security.
Daily regime
The daily regime for the women classified as Maximum Security involved:
• 1 hour in the yard;
• 2 x 5-minute telephone calls weekly. No personal calls on weekends;
• 2 x 4-minute showers a day; and
• Meals served through a cell-door hatch (Breakfast at 8:30; Lunch at 11:30;
Dinner at 16:00).
A 2020 report of an announced visit to ARWCF by the Department of Corrections’
Office of the Inspectorate (‘Inspectorate’) found that some of the women classified
as high security were not receiving a minimum of one hour in the fresh air. 37
As well as being held in solitary confinement for an average of 22.5-23.5
hours a day, conditions of confinement and security arrangements for women
in segregated housing were identical to those for men. This included being
handcuffed to the back of the body whenever leaving the cell (‘progression’
involved being cuffed to the front of the body), and a 3-4 person unlock (four
in the Management unit, three in the ISU), meaning that 3-4 staff needed to be
present every time cell doors were opened, placing a significant burden on staff
and the women alike.
Allowable and prohibited items
The type and number of items women could keep in their cells were also severely
limited. The list of property items not allowed in management cells at ARWCF
included the following:
• No flasks/ jugs.
• No CDs.
• No pens.
37
32
Report of an Announced Visit to Auckland Region Women’s Corrections Facility by the Office of the
Inspectorate, June 2020. Released under the Official Information Act 1982. Online: https://inspectorate.
corrections.govt.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/42538/ARWCF_inspection_report_FINAL.pdf