‘Another form of punishment’: Lawyer slams use of Zoom calls instead of in-person prison visits

In-person visits at Risdon Prison are expected to return soon, with concerns some inmates had gone months without hugging their children or loved ones. DETAILS >>

FACE-to-face visits at Risdon Prison will recommence in the first week of April amid rising concern inmates hadn’t seen loved ones in real life for months at a time during the Covid pandemic.

Greg Barns SC, chair of the Tasmanian Prisoners Legal Service, said for the past two years, some prisoners had endured stints of up to nine months at a time without being able to hug their children or hold a loved one’s hand.

He said in-person visits had all but been completely replaced by Zoom video calls.

“It’s insane,” he said.

“There is no substitute for a family being able to sit with someone, hold their hand, hug your kids. It’s human nature.”

Greg Barns SC. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Mr Barns said face-to-face visits had been “extremely difficult” over the past two years, even for lawyers to visit their clients behind bars.

“To refuse to allow face-to-face visits is another form of punishment. While one understands the public health issues and Covid, it’s now time to allow the return of face-to-face visits,” he said.

“It’s not just family visits, it’s lockdowns, so we have people having the double whammy effect on their mental health of system lockdowns and limited family visits.”

A Department of Justice spokesperson said the Tasmania Prison Service understood the importance of connection with family and did “all it can to support those connections”.

“We expect face-to-face visits will recommence in the first week of April, following their temporary suspension due to the increased community transmission of Covid-19,” the spokesperson said.

“Visitors to the prison will be required to be fully vaccinated and wear face masks during visits.”

In-person visits at Risdon Prison are expected to return in April. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Mr Barns said the restrictions hadn’t just impacted prisoners – but also their families and children.

“When it comes to families, there is an obligation on the prison service to ensure as much as possible, we are facilitating face-to-face time and access,” he said.

“It’s extremely important for prisoners because as we know the stresses for children in having a loved one in prison. All the research shows that kids who have parents who are incarcerated have worse outcomes through life.”

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