Ummm – do we really want to give Corrections Staff tasers after this?

We know the violent, under-funded, over crowded prison industrial complex in this country is on the verge of collapse and riot.

We know the system is broken and damaged, we know the blood lust for vengeance that has been drummed up by the crime porn mainstream media and corrupt get-tough-on-crime politicians has created a vile pus pit of counter productive outcomes.

But should we allow tasers into such a dangerous environment?

String of attacks spur Government to arm prison guards with pepper spray, Tasers could be next
Tasers could be the next step in protection for correction officers, after a string of prison attacks spurred the Government to make pepper spray available to defend more guards.

…that was 2017, this is 2018…

Guard kicked inmate in head after fight at Auckland Prison, court hears
A trio of prison officers are standing trial for allegedly lashing out at a prisoner, kicking him in the head, breaking his ankle and then turning a surveillance camera away from the incident.

The accused are Wiremu Paikea, 34, Desmond Faafoi, 26, and Viju Devassey, 31.

Paikea, represented by Aaron Perkins QC, is charged with causing grievous bodily harm with reckless disregard.

…do we really want to give overworked, undertrained prison guards tasers when they conduct revenge attacks against prisoners and try to hide that revenge attack?

When you consider the recent history of NZ Corrections torturing prisoners and the State forced to pay out those torture claims and the infamous Goon Squad...

Just before the year 2000, prison authorities decided to believe that there was going to be a white supremacist uprising at the Christchurch mens prison. I know. You are thinking, ‘they believed there was going to be a white power uprising at a prison to coincide for the year 2000 – are you sure’?

Yep. That’s what they believed. So believing that a white supremacist uprising was set to occur, Corrections green lighted the creation of an over the top macho pumped up response team nicknamed the ‘Goon Squad’.

Rituals by staff members of the group included stapling their testicles to a table. Yes, you read that right, an initiation ritual was to staple your testicles to the table to show how tough one was.

I don’t remember seeing that in the PSA handbook!

One would imagine OSH would have much to say about it these days.

Don’t think this can get worse? Oh it does.

In an infamous drill at Christchurch prison where the Goon Squad marched into the prison at night using ultra aggressive and hostile tactics, they ‘accidentally’ killed a prisoner in a choke lock.

…NZs damaged prison industrial complex is damaging the prisoners AND those we ask to work in that environment.

The NZ public have to be force fed the horror of the system they have built.