NCJ Number
226106
Date Published
2008
Length
94 pages
Annotation
This report summarizes observations and presents recommendations by the Australian Human Rights Commissioner and the staff of the Australian Human Rights Commission as a result of their visits to Australia’s immigration detention facilities and to the residences of immigrants in community detention between June and September 2008.
Abstract
Although the Commission observed improvements in immigration detention facilities since its previous years’ visits, the Commission reports significant ongoing concerns about the immigration detention system. There are fewer people in immigration detention, and the number of long-term detainees is decreasing; however, some people are still held for long and indefinite periods. The off-shore processing of asylum seekers on Christmas Island continues. The new immigration detention center on the island is a high-security facility that the Commission recommends should be discontinued as a facility for immigration detainees. Although children are no longer held in immigration detention centers, they are still housed in other closed immigration detention facilities, both on the mainland and on Christmas Island. The Stage 1 section of Villawood Immigration Detention Center remains in use despite the Commission’s repeated recommendation that it should be demolished. Although there are ongoing efforts to renovate some detention facilities, the infrastructure at the mainland immigration detention centers is insufficient and rundown; the atmosphere remains security-driven and prison-like. This report’s recommendations pertain to the monitoring of standards in immigration detention, the length and indefiniteness of detention, staff training, detention infrastructure and environment, physical health care, mental health care, recreational activities, educational programs, external excursion, the use of restraints, access to communication mechanisms, client placement, and case management. Recommendations are also offered regarding induction materials, interpreters and translation of documents, visitors’ facilities, food, and the treatment of children in immigration detention. 195 notes