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Groves, Matthew --- "Ombudsmen and prisons" [2018] ELECD 1071; in Hertogh, Marc; Kirkham, Richard (eds), "Research Handbook on the Ombudsman" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2018) 319

Book Title: Research Handbook on the Ombudsman

Editor(s): Hertogh, Marc; Kirkham, Richard

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN: 9781786431240

Section: Chapter 17

Section Title: Ombudsmen and prisons

Author(s): Groves, Matthew

Number of pages: 18

Abstract/Description:

Prisons and prisoners have long been one of the most active parts of the jurisdiction. This work of the Ombudsman has two layers. The first is to provide an important protection for prisoners, who are acutely vulnerable to the exercise of official power. Ombudsman can provide a quick and effective way for prisoners to raise complaints about their treatment. Ombudsman provide a responsive and rights sensitive avenue of complaint. The second layer of the work of Ombudsman in prisons comes from their impact on prison administration. Prisons have long been closed institutions that do not operate in a transparent or public manner and this closed, shielded nature makes prisons difficult to reform because they are not subject to the level of public and political scrutiny that applies to most other areas of public administration. The work of Ombudsman in prisons has evolved to fill that gap. Much of the reform to prison management, policies and rules is caused or influenced by the work of Ombudsman. This second layer of the work of Ombudsman follows from thr first because very often the dealings with individual complaints from prisoners leads Ombudsman into examining and influencing wider issues within prisons. Ombudsman are especially well suited to this role because their independence allows, even requires, them to pursue institutional reforms within prisons that governments would otherwise be reluctant to begin.