Human Rights Law Centre Advocates for Ban on Strip-Searches in Australian Prisons
The Human Rights Law Centre (HRLC) has released a report advocating for a ban on strip-searches in Australian prisons and youth detention centers. The report states that these searches are often unnecessary and can be traumatizing for inmates, many of whom have histories of abuse.
Key Findings
The HRLC's investigation into strip-search practices across Australia revealed stark statistics regarding their prevalence and effectiveness.
- An average of 15,154 strip-searches are performed monthly in Australian prisons, yet they have a contraband detection rate of just 0.58%.
- In youth detention centers, an average of 317 strip-searches are conducted monthly, with a 4.32% detection rate.
- Data obtained via freedom of information requests indicates that most searches either did not result in contraband discovery or detection was not recorded.
Many individuals in prison describe strip-searches as acts of sexual assault and coercive control, with the practice compounding existing trauma.
The report further identifies strip-searches as a "gendered tactic of state violence," disproportionately affecting women, particularly those with histories of sexual and family violence.
Disproportionate Impact
Evidence gathered suggests that First Nations women and children experience strip-searches at alarmingly higher rates. In the ACT in 2024, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women were reportedly subjected to nearly half of all strip-searches of women.
In Queensland, a particularly concerning statistic emerged: over half of the 700 strip-searches in youth prisons during a seven-month period (2020-2021) involved First Nations children.
Sohini Mehta, a senior lawyer at the HRLC, stated that this disproportionate impact is linked to systemic racism and discrimination.
Proposed Alternatives
The HRLC recommends replacing strip-searches with less invasive screening methods. They advocate for the adoption of full body scanning technology, which is currently used in airports and public buildings, as a viable and respectful alternative.
Additionally, the HRLC calls for the implementation of trauma-informed and culturally informed screening procedures. Advocates, including former inmates and organizations like Formerly Incarcerated Girls Justice Advocates Melbourne (Figjam), strongly support the call for a ban, citing the degrading and re-traumatizing nature of these searches.