Iwi and Pacific perspectives on mixing young women prisoners with adult prisoners

By Sophie Goldingay

Acknowledgement and thanks toBill Simpson, Barry Baker, Daniel Hauraki, Aunty Kiwa

Hutchen, Tania Mataki, Marcia Marriott, Pare Rauwhero, Awhitia Mihaere, Valerie, Asenati Lole-Taylor, Kathleen Quinlivan, Annabel Taylor, Bill Murdock, Marie Elliot, Sheila Macam and SPEaR funding.

To raurau toku raurau, ka ora te iwi. With my knowledge and your knowledge we can grow together

United Nations view of youth mixing with adults in prison

Gang recruitment

SuicideSelf harm

ContaminationCorruption

Victimisation Bullying

Manipulation

Current Age-mixing young women in prison• <17 locked

• few opportunities

mainstream locked frequently in line with prison security requirements

Perspectives on punishment

Deterrence

Rehabilitation

Retribution

Methodology

• Discourse analysis used : purpose of imprisonment is always contested

• Look at the underlying discourse in the talk

• From Foucault: consider PRACTICES including discursive practices and POWER RELATIONS

Prisoners perspectives

• vulnerable=not institutionalised

• previous youth wings = oppressive conditions

• Keen for youth unit with structured day/programs, but NOT long lock ups!

• Concern: youth unit/wing with no adults would be boulevard Hollywood!

Prisoners’ perspectives

positive relationships with adult prisoners – supported and disciplined by them.

Some spoke of the respect adult prisoners have amongst the young

Indigenous values: respecting elders

• Importance of the respect that young women learn from older women (Te Awekotuku, 1999).

• Elders have special role to transmit traditional values, beliefs, knowledge, skills and customary practices (Ka’ai & Higgins, 2004, p. 22).

Current research in women’s prisons

• Decolonising methodology (Smith, 2005) calls for consultation with iwi –

Kaiwhakamana WGTN

• Young kids deserve someone upright to walk with ... not someone who is in jail

• you tell me who you walk with and I’ll tell you who you are

• Adult prisoners give confusing advice and lead youngster on a merry path

Ngai Tahu Perspectives

• Important that young people have role models and contact with elders Teina/Tuakana concepts. Violence and bullying worse if just youth.

• Youth need a structured day and education though – perhaps a day program then return to mixed wing?

Puukaki ki te Aakitai (ARWCF)

• From indigenous perspective, is harmful to put young prisoners in unit with no adults –MORE contaminating as separate from whanau type environment

Puukaki ki te Aakitai (ARWCF)

• No matter what the crime, Maori still hold on to the Tikanga they’ve been brought up with.

• Suggestion of mentors for youth in and out of prison - Wahine and Tane

Tagata Pasifika

• Young people with no adults – more encouragement to go down wrong path

• adults enable them to reflect about their actions

• Young prisoners need mentors- in and out of prison

Key issue: is it possible for . . .• supportive guidance, emotional support, discipline

• transmission of Maori/ Pacific or other non-violent non-criminal values and beliefs [NOT criminal values]

to be provided by adult prisoners, in prisons?

• Depends on WHO they are, their background etc.

Tentative conclusions . . .• consequence of status quo: deprivation, lack of adequate

rehabilitation, gang recruitment

• Consequence of only youth in unit: fighting, no role model, not in whanau structure –contamination of youth by western cultural practices.

• Possibility of mixing with chosen adults - Need flexible response and structured program