Prisoners now have access to pyjamas, and their cells are being checked daily, in a raft of changes at Risdon Prison following a damning report last year.
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But they were still being forced to sleep next to open toilets, and eat day-old sandwiches.
Custodial Inspector Richard Connock made 64 recommendations in his 2019-20 report, raising concerns about health and safety within the prison, as well as overcrowding.
Two of those recommendations included a lack of pyjamas for male prisoners, and the need for regular cell checks to ensure mattresses were not moldy.
Initially, the Tasmanian Prison System responded to the report stating that families could only send pyjamas to those in Mary Hutchinson Women's Prison, and that they were not allocated to male prisoners or available through the canteen. TPS acknowledged the recommendation needed to be reviewed.
As of this week, the Justice Department confirmed "the implementation of this recommendation is well underway and near completion".
"Sleepwear (thermals) are available for purchase by prisoners through the canteen," a department spokesman said.
"Processes are also being imbedded to routinely provide them to prisoners over the age of 65 and those with medical needs. They are also provided to any other prisoner upon reception on request."
The spokesman also confirmed cells in both the minimum and maximum security units were now checked daily.
But it was not all good news, with some recommendations still outstanding.
As part of his report, the Custodial Inspector raised concerns about a lack of in-cell hygiene with no lids on prisoner toilets.
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Responding to the report in September when it was released, the prison said the recommendation had "budgetary implications", but it was working with a fellow correctional centre in Victoria to source portable toilet lids.
As of this week, the department said "review of this recommendation continues and we are actively sourcing suitable models from other jurisdictions".
Chair of the Tasmanian Prisoner's Legal Service Greg Barns said it was disappointing the department had failed to address "easy to fix" issues, leaving prisoners without access to fresh food and basic hygiene.
"Prisoners are entitled to be treated with the same dignity and respect as anyone in the community, and it is incumbent on the Tasmanian Prison Service to ensure when simple requests are made by the Custodial Inspector that they are acted upon quickly," he said.
"The whole purpose of the Custodial Inspector is to improve life in the prison system. There is no excuse for failing to act."
The Justice Department said TPS had appointed a senior staff member in August last year to coordinate a response to the inspectorate report.
"TPS senior managers meet specifically to review recommendations from the Custodial Inspector and to progress actions on a monthly basis and this is reviewed in their weekly performance and compliance meetings," a spokesman said.
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