Appeals against prison discipline
Asked whether prisoners could appeal governors’ disciplinary decisions, the Minister said he lacked the information and invited a specific written question.
Is there any right of appeal against the sentence pronounced by the governors of these prisons which, according to their relatives, are very severe? Has the prisoner a right to appeal against what appears to be an extra sentence to what has been decided by the judge in the courts?
Comment on this
I said that a high measure of discipline has to be preserved. However, I did not say that severe punishments are meted out. In fact, severe punishments are not meted out. Any punishments or disciplinary measures which are imposed are what are adequate to meet the offence in question. If the Deputy puts down a specific question with regard to the governor's rights and the rights of prisoners to appeal, I will answer it. I have not got that information here, and I do not wish to talk off the top of my head on that point.