Joey and Carmen
Content Warning: These stories are about violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation and may include references to suicide or self-harming behaviours. They may contain graphic descriptions and strong language and may be distressing. Some narratives may be about First Nations people who have passed away. If you need support, please see Contact & support.
As soon as Joey was sent to prison his lawyers came to visit. They booked an Auslan interpreter – Joey is deaf – for the hour’s visit. They told staff who they were and waited at the front desk. After 40 minutes the lawyers asked staff if there was a problem. ‘Apparently the staff had called [Joey] over the loud speaker,’ his mother Carmen told the Royal Commission, ‘which of course [he] couldn’t hear.’
Two weeks later Joey was waiting to see a psychologist. A professional looking woman came into his cell and sat down. She started speaking to Joey who signed he was deaf. After a few minutes the woman walked out of the room.
Carmen said the woman never returned and no-one explained who she was or what was happening. Joey continued to ask to see a psychologist. He told staff, ‘he was not doing well mentally,’ Carmen said.
‘There was a misinterpretation or misunderstanding and staff thought he wanted to commit suicide so they locked him up in confinement for four days for 24 hour monitoring. He was very frustrated until he got his message through.’
Prisoners who aren’t deaf or hard of hearing are entitled to a daily phone call. If Carmen rings Joey, staff will not pass on messages. She has to use the prisoner email system. But emails can take up to 10 days to arrive. ‘If I need to talk to him regarding booking in visitors or court issues, I cannot inform him on that day.’
Lawyers also can’t telephone Joey and have to see him in person. It is often difficult and has become very expensive for Carmen to find and pay for interpreters.
Carmen said there are many other issues that make Joey’s life in prison harder than prisoners who aren’t hard of hearing.
He has repeatedly asked to get subtitles on TV which still hasn’t happened. He asked to do a course of study but they have refused because there is no interpreter. Joey also asked to work in the factory with the other prisoners but they said this isn’t possible because of workplace health and safety issues. When there are changes to the mealtimes or the daily schedule the announcements are made over loudspeaker and no-one informs Joey.
‘One day he was not informed – said over loudspeaker – of 5 am breakfast and went to court and not had water and anything to eat till 12 pm after court. How is anyone meant to have a sharp mind in court with nothing to eat or drink in 15 hours?’
Carmen wants the prison to address the discrimination. She has contacted the warden, specialist service providers and the NDIS, but says she has not had a response.
‘This fight is not only for our son but any inmates now or in the future, who may have hearing impairment.’
Disclaimer: This is the story of a person who shared their personal experience with the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability through a submission or private session. The names in this story are pseudonyms. The person who shared this experience was not a witness and their account is not evidence. They did not take an oath or affirmation before providing the story. Nothing in this story constitutes a finding of the Royal Commission. Any views expressed are those of the person who shared their experience, not of the Royal Commission.